Yuma School District-1 is moving ahead with a new scoreboard system in The Pit at Yuma High School.
It is expected the $175,000 system will be installed and in operation in time for the 2026-27 basketball season. The current hanging scoreboard will remain in operation for volleyball.
The Yuma-1 Board of Education moved ahead with the purchase after a lengthy discussion during its regular monthly meeting, Monday night at the District Office. President Tyson Brown, Jeff Ovalle, John Deering and Heath Roundtree were in attendance, and Ronella Noble participated remotely.
A key part of the project is YHS partnering with corporate sponsors. Principal Brady Nighswonger told the board the goal is to have the system paid for in three years.
There are three “anchor” partners reportedly already on board. Each will pay $7,000 for three years, for a total of $63,000 in sponsorship funds already committed to the project. Efforts continue to secure more business sponsors.
The current scoreboard has hung about center court in The Pit for the past 16 years. It began to develop operational issues in recent years. An attempt to fix it last year was unsuccessful. Superintendent Jim Fraley told the board Monday that Nighswonger and Assistant Principal/Activities Director Dave Sheffield saw it as an opportunity, and came up with a proposal that would allow the community to be involved as well.
They got to work securing sponsors and continue to make progress.
Noble said she would like to have more certainty about the level of sponsorship before making such a expensive purchase. There was more discussion, including there being an eight to 10-week window from the time of making the order to having it arrive and installed. It also was verified that YHS did indeed have the three anchor partners on board.
The board approved a motion to moved ahead with the purchase on a 4-1 vote, with Noble casting the dissenting vote.
A video board will be on the south wall, and a modernized scoreboard will be on the north wall. Some banners are going to have to be moved, and the track and field records board will be moved.
The center light for spotlight wrestling will remain in place.
Restraint regulations
A new policy, and the accompanying regulations and exhibits, dealing with physical intervention and restraint were presented for first reading during Monday’s meeting.
Fraley explained it is based on legislation passed by the Colorado Legislature in 2025. The Colorado State Board of Education recently passed the rules and regulations based on the legislation. The Colorado Association of School Boards then came up with the proposed wording the for the policy and accompanying documents.
It narrows the use of restraint and isolation of students, and includes updated training requirements for staff.
Fraley told the board he thinks it helps principals, staff and the public have a clearer picture when restraint and conclusion can and cannot be used.
Brown said he initially had some concerns, such as a preschool staffer grabbing a student before he or she sprints into the street. However, he said he has come to understand it will not tie the hands of those having to make a quick decision.
The board passed all four documents on a 5-0 vote. There is a policy and regulation for “Use of Physical Intervention and Restraint,” an exhibit for “Student Restraint Incident Report Form,” and an exhibit for “Complaint Procedures and Regulations.”f
All four will come up for second reading at the September board meeting.
Students recognized
Two YHS students were recognized during Monday’s meeting.
Nalany Orozco was honored for receiving the CASRO Student That Cares Award, a prestigious recognition by Colorado’s school resource officers. The board was told she had undertaken several big projects, such as a stop destructive behavior program, and being just one of a handful of students named to a statewide Safe2Tell committee. She currently is attempting to create a vehicle registration and assigned parking spots for the school’s parking lot.
Daphani Allen was unable to attend Monday, but she was recognized as the 2A state champion in the 200-meter dash.
More meeting
Fraley provided a report on facilities work that was completed over the summer. He said the A/C work is nearing an end, and there are more projects on tap well into the fall. The new scoreboard for the softball field will be installed, but not in time for the first home games on August 28. The first base dugout roof at the softball field has been replaced after it was blown off by high winds in early July.
He gave an update professional development and district goals. The main focus is on student-centered learning, districtwide support for all learners, and improving efficiencies to overcome challenges.
The Consent Agenda included the following donations: Bank of Colorado, $350 for girls golf; CLC, $63.95 for school merchandise sold at Dollar General; El Pomar Foundation, $1,500 for the FBLA Third of July event; Yuma Booster Club, $1,500 for boys golf for golf bags; Bank of Colorado, $250 for boys golf for golf bags; Yuma County Commissioners, $300 for Mock Trial, after helping serve livestock dinner at the county fair; BGR Dental, $250 for boys golf for golf bags, and; Helena Agri-Enterprises, $730 for FFA.
The Consent Agenda included the following recommended hirings: Jazmin Danner, YHS assistant cheer coach; Diana Vega, MES special education para; Tayte Page, YHS math teacher; Joe Oss, summer weights; Presley Papachek, summer weights; Shea Walters, YHS volunteer softball coach; Tessa Rhodes, YMS volunteer volleyball coach; Andrea Valenzuela, YMS special education para; Kailynne Wright, YMS floating substitute/para; Bryson Chrismer, maintenance mechanic; Trevor Haruf, YMS volunteer football coach; Tayte Page, YHS boys volunteer assistant basketball coach; Kailyn Rodriguez, MES special education para; Liz Baucke, YHS assistant girls basketball coach; Hannah Lungwitz, YHS volunteer assistant softball coach, and; Lindsey Galles, YHS assistant softball coach.