Students hit airwaves as part of school course

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD - High school students who want to be in television or radio when they're older can get an early start on following that dream.

Spotswood High School is offering classes in television and radio production, both taught by Andrew Zaborney, who used to work in the field. Not only can students appear on the borough's cable access channel, they can also be heard on the school district's own radio station.

Board of Education President Richard O'Brien said the district is hoping to get an FCC license so that the radio station can be broadcast throughout Spotswood. Currently it is limited to just Spotswood High School, and Zaborney said the station is only heard over the district's television network.

"Andrew has really worked hard to make the program grow, and it was his idea to put forth radio broadcasting," O'Brien said.

The high school already has an

elaborate TV and radio program; a low-wattage radio station beaming out to residents would be icing on the cake.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT PILLING staff Left, Spotswood High School students Robert Gunther (l) and Nick Brown broadcast "The Sports Lounge" last week. The show is played three times daily on Channel 3. Above, a student works inside the production room during a live broadcast. Below, Kevin Kelly, a junior at Spotswood High School, works the boards during a taping. One of the shows already airing on Channel 3 is "All-Inclusive," which features students talking about topics that are of interest to teenagers, Zaborney said.

"Really it's a radio show on TV," he said.

There is also "The Sports Lounge," a show hosted by students Nick Brown and Chris Costello. The two discuss local and professional sports, and the half-hour show is broadcast on Channel 3 daily at 4, 7 and 9 p.m.

"All Inclusive" is moving to an hour time slot and will include guests such as Board of Education members, teachers and students who play musical instruments, Zaborney said.

"Anyone with Channel 3 can watch these TV shows," he said.

The radio station is still a work-in-progress, though it does broadcast Top 40 music through the in-classroom TV cameras as students arrive at school, he said.

Officials do not know how long it will take to get the FCC license, though Zaborney said it could be a while off.

"We could do a lot more with it," he said of the radio station.

The station does broadcast a Spotswood High School morning show, and also runs morning news and school announcements. The morning show is fully produced with a crew of student hosts and runs Monday through Friday at 7:45 a.m.

The radio and TV facilities were partially created under the eye of former teacher Richard Kuzminczuk, who recently retired. The classes have been around for several years, and the sports show was created when he was still working in Spotswood, Zaborney said.

A new television show may premiere next week, Zaborney said. "Pit Pass," hosted by students, will focus on NASCAR racing.

By taking his classes, TV production levels I and II and radio production I, students learn how to work behind the scenes as well in front of a camera or microphone. They learn how to manage, be disc jockeys and run stations, as well as do news, weather and traffic.

Funding for the programs comes in part from the district but also through Tech Prep, a state sponsored, federally-funded program to support technology in radio and television.