Kootenai River Inn gives reader board to school

The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho has donated the old Kootenai River Inn electronic reader board to Boundary County School District.

“This donation will greatly benefit the community by keeping all current and upcoming events posted for all to read,” said Superintendent Dr. Don Bartling. “It will be a pleasure to be able to promote all school activities and events more accurately and efficiently with the new reader board.”

“It’s just something the tribe wanted to do for the community and the kids,” said Jennifer Porter, tribal chairwoman for the Kootenai Tribe.

The school district expects to spend $5,000 to install the reader board at Boundary County Middle School on Highway 95, Bartling said. It’s expected to be installed in two weeks and will be used to advertise all school events.

The Kootenai River Inn a few weeks ago installed a new electronic sign.

Bonners Ferry High School Athletic Director Ted Reynolds learned about the new sign and asked the tribe if it would be willing to donate or sell the older reader board.

“I think it’s a great public relations tool,” Reynolds said. “Anytime you go to other schools, you see them out front. This is just not for the high school, but for the middle school and all school district events.”

Events held at the school, like the annual Community Breakfast and Missoula Children’s Theatre, also will be advertised with the reader board, Bartling said.

Similar readers boards cost about $25,000.

“We just really appreciate all that Jennifer did and their tribe did to help us,” Reynolds said. “I believe it will pay off in great, great amounts.”

The school is working with Brent Smith from Yesco sign company to install the reader board.