MINERSVILLE - The Minersville Area school board recognized 13 donors Monday night who contributed to the electronic sign board project.
The new electronic message center will be erected in the borough at Route 901 and Sunbury Street, replacing the old sign.
Superintendent M. Joseph Brady said that the graduating class of 2012 initiated the project, presenting money as a class gift to start to prepare for buying a new sign.
With Jennifer C. Laudeman, district business manager, seeking donations from the community, $30,750 was raised for the effort.
The cost of the electronic message center - to be purchased from Horst Signs, Myerstown - is $28,154.79.
"The billboard at the corner of (Route) 901 and Sunbury Street is really woven into the fabric of our school district ... the students, parents and all of the citizens have found it to be a very genuine source of information," Brady said. "One of the problems has been that we've had to send custodians with a ladder and very laboriously by letter, change it from time to time."
The new sign is electronic and can be controlled from the school district offices.
Donors for the sign include the class of 2012, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Pottsville, Dutcavich Funeral Home, First National Bank of Minersville, H.T. Lyons, Lowes Distribution Center, Hidden River Credit Union, Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Mike Watcher's Auto, Law Offices of Nicholas Quinn, James W. Quandel & Sons Inc., BG's Value Market and Wal-Mart Distribution Center.
The amounts donated started from $2,500 to have a name permanently displayed on the sign.
"The district is very grateful for all amounts, both large and small," Brady said.
The school board will reorganize at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, followed by a regular meeting.