Those who have passed by the Maroa-Forsyth campus in Route 51 have undoubtedly noticed an upgrade on the school's football facility.

The district this summer renovated their football field with artificial turf and added a new track around the outside. Superintendent of Maroa-Forsyth Schools Mike Williams explains the new scoreboard they recently put up will pay for itself in advertisements. He says in a few years the scoreboard will be a revenue generator for the district.

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Most schools around the area have wooden advertisement signs lining the fences of the field or the outlying areas, Williams explains the facility has done away with those and the advertisements will scroll across the screen throughout the game. Williams feels this is going to be more effective and professional.

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Williams notes several area schools have added scoreboards like the one Maroa-Forsyth has put up. Schools like Normal Community and Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin and several Chicago and Metro-East schools. Williams believes Maroa may be ahead of their time with the scoreboard, but he feels more schools will become interested in it when they realize the advertising dollars it can create.

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Williams notes, the dollars generated from the scoreboard will go to help fund the school's athletic programs. Williams stresses it won't all go towards football, they will look to help offset costs in baseball, basketball and softball amongst others.