Fayetteville Focuses Camera Eye On Self
District Using New Studio For Teacher Development, Student Shows
Last updated Thursday, February 2, 2006 10:35 PM CST in Front
By Jeff Smith
The Morning News
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FAYETTEVILLE -- Chris Rosteck shies away from the camera's spotlight.
The Fayetteville High School senior feels more comfortable behind the bay of television sets and video equipment.
"It has kind of a professional feel to it," Rosteck said of the new television studio at the Bates Annex of the school.
Students and district officials unveiled their new digs Thursday in the former cafeteria of Bates Elementary School. The district used $450,000 of a $1.8 million grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation to fund the studio.
The primary use of the studio is to create media-based professional development seminars for teachers. A training seminar can be recorded and then broadcast to learning centers at the other 13 district schools, said Assistant Superintendent Judy Rana.
"Instead of one speaker focusing on one or two people, they can address the entire school district, if there was the need," she said.
The district is selling one recorded seminar to other districts across the state. Rana can provide material to teachers at any time by handing them a DVD.
"We've got stuff down ready to go that's very pertinent," she said.
The district is also using the studio for student television classes and district television shows. The district only aired School Board meetings on television until this year, said Susan Cromwell, director of district technology programs.
Cox Communications helped prepare the studio for live television, and the district will share local channel 14 with the University of Arkansas student television station, UATV.
"They have a wonderful new studio. I think it's really neat that they're doing that, and we are looking forward to seeing what they are going to do with their student-produced programs," said Larry Foley, a university journalism professor and UATV adviser.
The district has yet to establish set times or intervals for its shows and more are planned. Superintendent Bobby New will start a show in the spring to talk about districtwide issues.
He said the show and studio will provide for better communication within the district and the community while helping students learn.
"Our vision is to institute a top-flight experience for students," New said.
Sallie Langford, a first-year television teacher, said the studio provides real-world experience for her students, who can take up to four semesters of television.
"I cannot imagine you could teach television production without this," she said.
The students are producing a biweekly show called "What's Up Fay-Town."
"The Bulldog Show" highlighting Fayetteville athletic events will be filmed from the new studio, although Community Access Television will continue to tape the show.
Rosteck said he's not worried about making mistakes while his peers and the rest of the city watches.
"You're going to make mistakes, but you gotta go on," he said. "The show must go on."
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