When students arrived at school after Presidents’ Week break, they were greeted by a new digital sign on the front of the main building. After years without a functioning sign, Arcata High can now inform students, parents, and other members of the community about upcoming events and other important information from the parking lot.
The financial details of this project have become a hot topic amongst students, sparking controversy over the allocation of the funds and whether it would take away from another program or school needs. District superintendent Roger Macdonald estimated that this project cost a total of approximately $50,000-$70,000 to purchase and install.
Currently, it displays three different sequences of images, but there may be more in the future. One screen has a blue background showing the date, time, and temperature. Another shows the words, “We are Tigers on the Rise!” along with an animation of a tiger walking across the screen. The next display shows the words “Welcome to Arcata High School” beside the Arcata High logo.
“It could be used for bulletin announcements, and I could imagine the highlights of a basketball game, something fun from a rally, or showing students doing great things in the community,” said Macdonald. “For me, that’s your story to tell as a school. We would be really happy to provide that outlet for Arcata High, but it’s up to the students what the possibilities are for you.”
Many students had no idea about this project, but it did not simply appear overnight. The sign had been in discussion for years, and over the past months, the Director of Facilities, John Reeves, and Director of Technology, Tim Olivera, carefully selected the size, graphics, and location of the marquee.
In addition to the sign on the Arcata High campus, there was a similar marquee installed on the McKinleyville High School campus the same week.
There have been similar signs on campus previously, which were much more basic with limited capabilities. They were taken down with the construction of the Fine Arts Building. “This is the current technology, we wanted to advance with it,” said Macdonald. “We spent a little more money for something that we can grow into.”