DCTV was informed by the school department several months ago that the middle school needed the space currently occupied by the DCTV studios for classroom space. The school department offered alternative space in the lower level of the middle school for the studios. For a number of reasons including difficulty in soundproofing, the height of the ceilings, and the lack of air conditioning, the DCTV staff determined that the lower level space in the middle school was not suitable. The ceiling height was to low to allow the lighting grid and the air conditioning is needed for the equipment, not the people.
DCTV then asked where space could be made available in town buildings to accommodate their operation. One major consideration was that the new space had to be close to a fiber connection to Comcast. That narrowed the field considerably. Mr. Iacaponi proposed two locations, the Town Hall using the Select Board meeting room as a studio and the old Town Hall adjacent to the police station. Both are close to a fiber end. DCTV staff looked at both locations and determined that the old Town Hall was better. More space, less disturbance to other town operations, ability to construct the studio ...
... without disruption, and room for expansion among other things.
The cost of the move is estimated at $200,000. Not all of that expense must come at once. The HVAC system will have to have air conditioning added before the equipment arrives. The cabling and wiring will have to be installed. Then the equipment can be moved. DCTV staff have estimated a 2 week outage will be needed to disconnect, physically relocate equipment, and reconnect. No broadcasts would occur during that time. The funding for this move will come from DCTV and whatever town funds can be identified for the purpose. It is up in the air at this time. Neither DCTV or the town was aware that this move was going to be needed so no contingencies had been made. DCTV has funds earmarked for equipment that could be diverted and the town has a capital improvement request for work at the old Town Hall which may be used to defray the cost.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
DCTV studio move
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29 comments:
If DCTV was notified 'several months ago' and presumably the move must occur so classroom can be used for next September it seems that DCTV will have had some 8-9 months to plan and make this happen. Does not sound too unreasonable to me. Not sur ewhat other 'contingencies' there might have been - it would still cost money to do the move and it would still be an inconvenience no doubt but it would still need to be done.
This is not as easy as it sounds. It would have been nice if our School Com. or Dr. Russell had met with DCTV and communicated their needs. They still have not met with DCTV! What happened to communication among departments?? This move will cost the town $200,000 and of course, the school will still want DCTV to provide for them! What a shame! The SC could have just picked up the phone and called Cindy...sad
I think that would have been the least that the SC could have done. DCTV was notified in January 2009 and the School wants the space for classes in Sept. 09 so I am sure they want them out before the first day of school for the 09-10 year. So you are looking at a deadline of August. 7 months to find a space, get plans drawn up,put project out to bid, get funding from Town Meeting, have construction done, have all the cabling and electrical work done, and move everything oh yeah they have loads of time. Then lets not forget they still need to cover all the Spring Concerts and Graduations and Meetings while this is going on. Thanks School Committee. They should have told them last summer that they wanted them out Sept. 2009 not this past Jan.
Actually, Marland invited Dr. Russell to 3 meetings with the DCTV Board. The first Dr. Russell had a conflict and could not attend. The second meeting, Mike Gagne, who was on the board, told Dr. Russell is was not necessary for him to attend. The third meeting was this last Monday and Dr. Russell again had a conflict. That conflict was the first of two "Day in the District" with a candidate for the high school principalship.
Dr. Russell has been in constant contact with Marland via e-mails. DCTV was notified of the space needs back in 2008, not January. The School Department has offered manpower from the maintenance staff to move and connect DCTV in their new space.
Dr. Marland layed out a veiled threat that DCTV would not be able to cover school activities if they had to move from the middle school.
So please, know your information before you spread garbage like fact.
Oh, as an FYI, DCTV may be given a year and won't have to move until September 2010. This I heard from a board member who said McDonald made the offer to give DCTV plenty of time to look for space and come up with the funds.
BQ
Thanks BQ for the facts. Imagine the schools want to use their space for education, how selfish of them.
A threat not to broadcast school sporting events, I wonder how some of DCTV's sponsors would feel about that?
Hi Bill, thanks for making this a posting. You answered many of my questions, but when the heating system at old Town Hall had to be emergently repaired what did it cost and did it come out of Reserve Fund? Thanks. My understanding is that there are heating/cooling systems that need to be replaced in other buildings too. Wondering what the cost is for a small building as compared to a public library for example.
The schools need the space and kids really shouldn't be learning in the basement, I understand we've had lots of basement mold and air quality problems throughout the schools. How safe are these old school buildings for the kids? I know the HS, new, has had mold probs. But I am curious if they are tested for lead, asbestos, or other environmental hazards. You'd think so. I do however think DCTV is probably more expensive to run and maintain then we realize. If they needed to expand or upgrade their stuff, then they should have had a 5 year financial and stab plan in place.
The thing with DCTV was when they moved into the old high school (now DMS) in 1984 they were told it wasnt a permanent solution. They have had 25 years to find a permanent home.
Hm, 25 years. That's enough time to plan. They play total victims of eviction.
I really hope this money doesn't come from Stabilization Fund.
In Mr. Michaud's infamous words, is DCTV a "nice to have" or a "must have"? Come on folks it is TV coverage we are talking about here.
Televised meetings of town committees are a boon to good government and an informed citizenry. DCTV hasn't cost the taxpayers anything for 25 years. They've provided invaluable learning opportunity to a generation of school students in the production of TV programs. The school department now doesn't use the most knowledgeable people in town by doing their own productions. If you've watched the difference in quality between the School Committee meeting and other town meeting telecasts, you know what I'm talking about. By the way, any perceived threat is a figment of McDonald's fevered imagination.
We all pay every month for DCTV its in our bills its called access fees
What do you mean DCTV has'nt cost us anything? Anybody that has cable pays for it every month. C'mon folks we can't all be that naive, can we?
The information I got was not from anyone on the school committee, but someone very close to a DCTV board member who showed me the e-mails.
The so-called "veil threat" was not an imagined by McDonald. It was how and my friend both interpreted Dr. Marland's e-mail to the school department.
So, get pull your mad-on for McDonald back in your pants and keep it there for when he might deserve it.
BQ
Just so you know DCTV was formed in 1994 not 1984. Even then it took a year and a half to purchase equipment and move into there current location.
The letter sent to Dr. Russell can be looked at in many different ways. I have seen it too and I have also seen the follow up letter to Shawn that goes on to explain that Dr. Marland was talking about how she is afraid of the communication problem that DCTV currently has with the School system and that if they are not located in a School Building then she thinks it could become even worst.
Also as for Dr. Russell not making 4 meeting, not 3, One was in late Jan which was planned on a date and time that he said he could make it but did not show up. The next was in the last week in Feb and if Mike told him he did not have to go to that meeting Mike never told the DCTV board that was said. The last 2 meeting have been right before the 2 Select Board meetings that DCTV has been on over the last month and a half.
Finally Dr. Russell is a member of the DCTV Board of Directors so why would someone tell him he did not need to be at his own Board Meeting. I think it is convenient that Dr. Russell is saying "someone who does not work for the town anymore told me not to go".
Phil or Bill what do you think? Just wondering do you think DCTV should have been given more notice? At the Select Board meeting I heard Ed and Lara say he has talked to Dr. Russell but what about the DCTV Board. Just want to hear from our elected officials?
Show us the email. Put it up here. It's obviously been passed around so let's see what it says.
I would have liked for DCTV to have had more notice but it is what it is. One budget cycle would have been nice. That would have allowed for some planning to fund the move. The middle school needs the room, so DCTV will move.
The old Town Hall is under-utilized and will be a great home for the station. I think both the middle school and DCTV will benefit in the end. Both will get more room.
Dr Russell,
I have not heard from you in awhile, and I would like to bring you up to date with your request of moving our studio. As you are aware, the select board has advised me to seek an alternative location if deemed necessary. Our choices are extremely limited. In our research, we must be connected to the I – Net system which limits many outside possibilities of seeking a permanent home.
Your offer of studio space in the lower floor of the Middle School is not suitable. We have hired a studio expert who has reviewed the space and immediately ruled it out as an option. I will send you a copy of his report if you would like to review it.
Also, at my Boards request, Peter and I have gathered financial data on the cost of any possible move out of our current location. The numbers are staggering. The minimal cost will be over $150,000 with a ceiling of $200,000. The consultant will suggest on Monday the old town hall as a possible new home. We recently toured another community studio in Wareham, that has completed a studio renovation, in the same type building, and the cost was $130,000.
The Board is very concerned with not only the extreme cost and unaffordable move, but the long term damage which may occur between DCTV and our school system. Last year alone we covered numerous school functions, including elementary, middle, and high school concerts, graduations, girls and boy’s athletics, school functions, like Mr. Dartmouth, and several guidance and other programs which benefit, the students in our system, as well as our entire Dartmouth community. Few community stations in Southeastern Massachusetts cover their school district with the quality and commitment that the DCTV –Dartmouth School partnership has offered.
The DCTV board strongly admits that once we are out of the school department loop, the communication between us will diminish and so to will the services provided, simply because accessibility to staff and students will be more difficult. I can't tell you how many times, Jim Thompson, Peter Chasse, and myself have been approached by kids in town who thank us for covering their athletic, musical, or educational events. You may not realize how important it is for them to see themselves performing on community television for all in town to watch on channel 18.It may seem an easy task to move a TV studio, we have found it is not. It is not like moving an office or classroom. DCTV is on the agenda, for the April 13 Select Board meeting. I will present the information, as they requested. At this time, two things are certain. We do not have the capital nor the time line suggested to vacate our current studio. I would hope that you would reconsider your decision on relocation. Thank you,
Cyndi Marland Ed.D.
where in that letter do you see a treat made by Dr. Marland. I see her saying that the DCTV Board sees that when DCTV is out of the school department loop that communications will most likely break down even more then they have in the past 3 months and also brings up access questions like will the DCTV Staff have access to the school buildings like they do now. I have seen DCTV staff show up at events 2 hours before the event starts and they are their well after the event ends are they still going to be able to get into these places when they need to? Or do we have to pay someone overtime to be there to open the building for them?
I think that what this letter is asking and I dont see a treat.
What's a 'treat'?
"and so to will the services provided,This is the statement where someone might think a veiled threat was made. The statement in its self, is innocuous and strengthens the previous part of the sentence about being out of the communication loop.
However, if you recall the past programs DCTV has aired in relation to the school system, you will notice a great deal of them are musical and sporting events.
Dr. Marland contends that if DCTV leaves the middle school all or most of the communications will diminish. Why? Does anyone know that the phone is still a communication tool.
How does DCTV get the sports schedule from the high school in order to schedule the taping of certain games? Who calls DCTV when each of the elementary schools has a concert? I don't think it is any staff member of the middle school.
That sentence above, therefore, can be construed as veiled threat that DCTV will no longer cover school events like they used to.
what ever Shawn i mean anonymous 11pm? Take it has you want and I for one hopes DCTV does tell the schools to go away when they call for help. The high school has a TV program maybe they should be doing more of these events and then DCTV can show them.
yes anon 2:03 - and when DCTV tells the schools they no longer want to broadcast school sports and music events we can all sit back and enjoy full time re-broadcasts of select board meetings and the ever popular banners telling us where we can purchase PAYT trash bags - matter of fact that's whats on now - gotta go and watch 'Must see TV'.
What part of "so to will the services provided," is so tough to understand? Dr Marland is playing the part of the long time occupant who is dragging her feet when its time to go. I personally dont understand what the problem is. She will be getting a permanent home for DCTV thats accessible and in fairly good condition. Unless shea afraid of having to pay heating and cooling costs and those costs currently not being paid "piggy-backing "on the school Dept. Good luck in the new permanent home of DCTV. Im sure no one has actually gone to see the 1100 person middle school but the rooms are needed to actually teach the children. Simple but true.
Let's just add more kids to the school system under 40R.
oh god not that. we need to limit the number of children everyone can have to two or less .that we the school population will continue to fall.
You all know how to twist things.
Thank goodness there are more people based in reality and more who don't stoop low enough to be insulting and nasty.
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