Plans under way for school channel on cable TV
March 16, 2012
Photo by Ted Lutz
Brian Wymer (left) and Chris Niklaus (right) sit at a table as they discuss a proposed Kane school channel on the local Comcast cable television system.
Plans are in the works to add a Kane Area School District channel on the local Comcast cable television network.
Chris Niklaus, assistant technology director for the school district, and Brian Wymer, high school business and technology teacher, discussed the proposal earlier this week at a meeting of the school board's Curriculum Committee.
In his report to the committee, Niklaus said the channel would begin with a basic "storyboard." The "storyboard" would include slides, scrolling messages, photos and videos of school district activities.
Niklaus said he hopes to have the cable "storyboard" ready to be "up and running" for the start of the next school year."
Niklaus said the school district may need to spend between $10,000 and $25,000 for equipment for the proposed school district channel available only on Comcast cable-- not satellite systems such as Dish and Direct TV.
Harry Steele, a school board member and chairman of the Curriculum Committee, said he is "all for the idea and concept" of a local school channel on Comcast. However, he believes Niklaus should develop a list of "specific expenditures" and a "timeline" for putting the channel on the air.
He said he is not "comfortable" setting aside money in the next budget for the proposed cable channel until costs are solidified.
Dr. Maryann Anderson, superintendent of the school district, said she is familiar with cable school channels in other areas.
She said a school channel on the cable TV system is "extremely powerful" in informing the public about school events and announcements.
"You watch it," she said.
See full article by purchasing the March 17 edition of The Kane Republican.
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Comments
Waste of Money?
March 27, 2012 by hajohns1982 (not verified), 1 year 12 weeks ago
Comment: 114
Kane is a small enough community, word of mouth would be just as effective, not to mention the newspaper itself would spread the word of whatever. Informative e-mails, electronic newsletters could be just as effective, not to mention cheaper.
How many people view that channel on a regular basis? Is it one of the main media sources that people turn to for information? If there are significant numbers prove that this would be a better media outlet to use, then yes, maybe it might be a good idea. But if not, then this would be a rather pointless endeavor.
I realize the school board is trying to make the schools better with up to date equipment and whatnot, but over the last few years, I have become more and more disappointed and irritated with the decisions that the school board is making. Maybe some of this money could be put towards a playground for the elementary school kids, instead of having them bring money in rather than doing the usual small gift for Christmas. Maybe there already is a new playground that I haven't heard about, but I feel this is a waste of money that could be better spent.