With approval of a development standard variance at Tuesday’s Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, Southwestern Consolidated Schools moved one step closer to a new digital sign.

Green Signs, based out of Greensburg, Indiana, will install a larger digital sign (photo) that will replace the current one that sits in front of Southwestern High School, 3406 W. 600 South.

The installation cost is $49,994.93 and was approved at the November school board meeting, according to superintendent Curt Chase. The sign is expected to be completed this spring.

The new sign will allow emergency medical services to tap in to the message board to display information when necessary.

Green Signs recently completed the installation of a new digital sign at the Shelby County Fairgrounds.

The school board met Wednesday for the first time in 2022 and retained all of its elected positions. Jim Emerick is President of the school board and Linda Isgrigg is Vice-President, according to the school system’s website.

Also serving on the school board are Susan Smith (Secretary), Michael Burbrink, Travis Beck, Jerry Drake and Isaac Pile.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board approved the use of ESSER III grant funds for a roof replacement project ($443,300) on the school system’s buildings and for an updated firewall ($9,300) to protect against a data breach.

The board also approved a $15,422 expense from Nading Mechanical out of the fieldhouse contingency fund to fix standing water issues on the west side of the campus.

Work is needed to keep water moving toward a drain to eliminate ponding, according to Chase.