Goodrich – After more than two years of planning and a host of issues the new Goodrich Area Schools sign located along Hegel Road north of the high school is up’but not quite running.
On Sept. 22 representatives of Apex Sign Group of Flint razed the old sign and installed the new marque just before Goodrich Homecoming. The three line scrolling message sign worked for a moment, then went black.
An agreement with The Coca-Cola Company is bringing in funds for the board, a light emitting diode (LED) message system replacing the old sign. A problem with the remotely-programmed LED panel is what’s holding up the project’an issue that has Bill Duso, ‘the keeper of the sign,? rather frustrated.
‘We’ve had some difficulties with the sign,? said Duso, an English and social studies teacher in the district for more than 30 years. The electrical system has problems, so we can’t get this going.?
Duso, who posted the magnetic letters on the old marque says the new sign was changed from Goodrich High School to Goodrich Area Schools’conveying more of a community sign rather than just schools.
‘There’s a host of graphics available for the sign. There’s a thermostat to display temperature and other weather information. But I like to have fun with the sign too.?
From sporting events to open houses to auditorium events Duso says the new sign will be programmed from inside via wireless computer.
The sign didn’t include the Coca-Cola or the Apex logo, however both company names will be displayed once a year as a way to thank the companies.
The five-year agreement specifies The Coca-Cola Company provides the school a one-time payment of $20,000, plus five annual payments of $3,750 for the sign in exchange for selling Coke products’including soda, diet soda, low-caffeine soda, and water’in vending machines throughout the Goodrich district, like the district has done for the past five years.
Vending machines are hooked to timers, preventing student access during inappropriate hours.
The contract specifies funds can’t be used elsewhere in the budget.