Jacobs Delivers $150,000 For New Scoreboard at Frontier's Dietz Field

(Hamburg, NY) – New York State Senator Chris Jacobs announced that he has obtained $150,000 in state funding for the Frontier Central School District to support the purchase and installation of a brand new multi-use scoreboard at Dietz Field at Frontier Senior High School. 

“Athletic events are an extremely important part of the educational experience for all students, and they also provide opportunities to bring the school and surrounding community closer together,” said Senator Jacobs. “Securing the scoreboard funding at this time will significantly enhance the impact of the athletic programs for all stakeholders while adding greater value to the larger athletic facilities improvement project.”

The Frontier Central School District is well known for its fiscal responsibility and efficient administration.  Focusing resources primarily on student education has restricted the district’s ability to invest in athletic facilities that would be considered on par with similar districts in Erie County.  

In 2018, the Frontier Central School District community voted overwhelmingly to approve a $1.8 million capital project to install a multi-use turf surface at Dietz Field, but New York State Education Department Funding allowances did not provide for the inclusion of the new scoreboard.  Frontier administrators and athletic boosters recognized that installing one at a later date would be not only disruptive to the new surface, but considerably more expensive as well, leading them to reach out to Jacobs for assistance.

"Our community wants and deserves the best for all our children, and our job as leaders is to find ways to make those dreams become a reality while still being fiscally responsible to our local taxpayers,” said Superintendent Dr. Richard Hughes.  “By building partnerships between the Frontier Black and Blue Booster Club, our Board of Education, athletic department and Senator Jacobs, it's further proof that anything is possible.  Senator Jacobs has been a committed educational advocate for our district and all of New York State.  While the digital scoreboard may be just a small step in our goal to continually improve, it will allow our athletes and our entire community to be recognized for their passion and commitment to Frontier."

“Providing our student-athletes with the highest caliber athletic facilities is a top priority for the Frontier Central School District’s Athletic Department, and this funding from Senator Jacobs will go a long way in helping us achieve that goal,” said frontier Athletic Director Richard Gray.  “When this project is completed and the scoreboard is operational, we will have a sporting environment that will motivate our student-athletes and inspire them to perform to the best of their abilities while representing their school.  I want to thank Senator Jacobs for helping us create an atmosphere for healthy and fun competition that we can all be proud of.”

An added benefit of the multi-use scoreboard and the technology it employs will be the ability for students not participating on the field to be involved in the creation of multimedia presentations and the operation of the scoreboard during events.  Supporters of the project point to such experiences as opportunities to engage more students, and introduce them to potential employment and career paths. 

A few years ago, the small group that created the Frontier Black & Blue Booster Club (FB3C) had a simple dream, to do everything in our power to improve the Frontier School District’s athletic facilities with a grassroots campaign,” said Frontier School Board member John Kilcoyne, Jr.  “Two years of hard work led to passage of the turf initiative that coincided with the track and field improvements.  Today, with the gracious support of Senator Jacobs, the final piece of the plan for Dietz Field is in place!  I cannot tell you how excited we are that the entire project will be completed at once and operational in the fall of 2020.”

The project is slated to begin in July of next year and it is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the new athletic season in September of 2020. 

“I am very pleased to have been able to provide the funding and support that will enable the Frontier Central School District to complete a very significant and value added project in the most cost-efficient manner,” said Jacobs.  “I look forward to seeing the new scoreboard in action next year while cheering the Falcons on to victory,” the Senator concluded.