Perry Hall High School's new electronic marquee began scrolling text on Friday morning.

"It gives a cleaner look to the building," principal George Roberts told Patch in January. "It allows us to move into the 21st century with the messages we want to send out to the community."

The sign, which the school gained permit approval from Baltimore County to install in November, is the result of four years of planning and fundraising.

Upon graduation, two classes contributed to the sign fund. Additional donations, including a personal donation from the principal, helped cover the $17,000 cost of the new sign.

It includes a secure wireless Internet connection, which allows administrators to instantly change the sign's scrolling messages from inside the school. The marquee's lights and scrolling messages will run only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., Roberts said.

Roberts met with members of the Perry Hall High School Neighbors Committee, founded in September, to address any concerns related to the new sign, according to County Councilman David Marks.

Roberts said many of the surrounding homeowners see the new sign as an improvement because its light will be turned off overnight, whereas the current one shines a light 24 hours a day.

Marks told Patch that neighbors had been informed that the sign began running on Friday.

What do you think about the new sign? Tell us in the comments.