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RCHS broadcast class closer to taping city council meetings

ROGERS CITY — Rogers City Area Schools continues to discuss contracts with the city council about video services.

The council had a workshop Tuesday to discuss contracts with the school.

The plan is to have broadcast students film council meetings, community bulletin boards and other projects.

The board approached the class with the idea because the city’s contract with Sunrise Cable Network is finished in December, Rogers City Area Schools broadcast teacher Ben Witter said. Witter said there are 17 broadcast students who would be involved in the concept.

“We’re still in talks about contractual language,” he said. “We need to see what needs to be done. With students traveling to meetings there’s a liability there. Really that’s about the only thing right now holding it up.”

Witter said the students have done work for the city before.

“(The city) felt like it would be a really nice fit,” Witter said.

Mayor Thomas Sobeck said the city also has to ensure the class has the proper equipment needed to film.

“The city is going to purchase or own part of the equipment that feeds into Charter,” Sobeck said. “We’re trying to figure out what kind of investment it will require. Our best case scenario is we’re up and online for the first meeting in January. But that’s an ambitious goal.”

City Manager Joe Hefele said in his report some of the agreement requirements may include:

* RCHS is paid an agreed upon monthly fee to run the bulletin board and film, edit and broadcast the regular council meetings, and workshops that precede them.

* there is an agreed upon price in place should it ask the class to film any additional meetings.

* there is an agreed upon hourly price to put together any other videos it may ask for.

* RCHS is given access to the local channel for things like games, concerts, etc., and the bulletin board for school events.

* RCHS cannot run ads on the local channel but can use the PBS model to broadcast its events.

Witter said it will be an amazing opportunity for the kids.

“We’re recording a real life thing, have to turn it around, do the editing and turn it in on time,” Witter said. “It teaches them about deadlines. If you don’t get it done, it’s bad.  It teaches them community involvement; to see how local government works. There are all kinds of real world applications they can get out of it.”

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.

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