Electronic reader board aim of PTO's fundraising drive

Odessa PTO (Parent/Teacher Organization) president Suzie Diefe has announced that the organization is kicking off a drive to replace the old manually updated Odessa Tigers sign located on the southwest corner of the Festplatz (corner of First Avenue and Division Street) with a new electronic reader board.

The PTO has obtained a preliminary bid of $10,000 for a new sign. The company the PTO has been working with, Apex LED of Spokane, has reported that the existing pole and power supply should be adequate for the new installation.

The proposed installation would include wireless or wifi control of the sign, along with a transceiver in the sign and software for the personal computer that will control the display from wherever it is located.

The software enables the display to be programmed to vary the appearance by changing the letter size, the number of lines, the graphic images and length of time each message is displayed.

Up to ten different messages can be programmed to run during the same time period, which makes it possible to use the board to promote not only school events, but community events as well.

For that reason, the PTO is asking community organizations such as the Odessa Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, O-H Athletic Booster Club, Odessa Healthcare Foundation, Friends of the Pool, Odessa Quilt Club and the Odessa School District to consider contributing toward the project. “All of these organizations could use this (sign) to promote their events and get information to the community," said Deife.

According to Deife, up to half of the funding may be available from the school district, pending school board approval.

The PTO itself is offering Titan supporters the opportunity to purchase a zip-up hoodie or long-sleeved shirt to help offset the cost of the sign. All students in pre-K through 12th grade will be given order forms to take home, or readers may use the abbreviated version printed in this week’s Odessa Record.