The Tamaqua Area School Board on Tuesday moved ahead with the purchase of new scoreboards for baseball, softball, soccer and football facilities.

The new scoreboards from Digital Scoreboards will cost $159,000, which will be paid for with funding the district receives through an agreement with St. Luke’s for athletics. It is also COSTARs pricing under a state contract.

The district first talked about purchasing a video board for the stadium in December, when board President Larry Wittig questioned how a “Jumbotron” enhanced the district’s athletic program.

Superintendent Ray Kinder at that time said that it would be an upgrade to facilities that are becoming outdated. The district had also used a portable video board for homecoming, which was well received, he said.

The district would be able to use the video board at the stadium for non-sporting events, such as homecoming, senior recognition and graduation, enhancing the experience not only for athletes, but all students, he said.

Board members had also pointed out the need to replace defunct scoreboards at the softball and baseball fields.

The district is replacing scoreboards for baseball, softball and soccer, as well as football at the stadium. Kinder told the board last week that he stressed the need to have the baseball scoreboard ready for this season.

Wittig had asked about sponsors, and Kinder said that he intended to allow the baseball, softball and soccer booster clubs to use the advertising to generate their own revenue.

“The baseball, softball and soccer boosters do a tremendous amount,” he said.

Kinder pointed out that at the stadium, the board will be used for athletics, advertising and promoting other events and happenings within the district — capturing an audience of 2,000 people at a football game that might not know about some of the positive things going on at the school.