School Board Contemplates Fate of School Radio Station
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
School Board Contemplates Fate of School Radio Station
MT 43 News Staff
School board members tabled the idea of suspending the use of KDGZ 98.3 FM, the school’s low-power radio station long used to broadcast emergencies in the county and Broadwater High School football and basketball games. The station was unable to broadcast the last two games because of a broken cord. Although that was later repaired, Superintendent Susie Hedalen and technical director Joe Gill focused on the high cost of running and maintaining the antiquated technology used to run the station and the lack of people to run the programming.
Hedalen explained that even after obtaining sponsorships from local businesses, keeping the station working costs the school district over $9,000 to maintain. An alternative to the radio station would be to create an “app” for the public to tune in to hear the games via their smartphones. “We could also build a link on the website for people to use,” Gill explained, “at a cost of about $1,000 annually.”
Hedalen explained Broadwater County’s Disaster and Emergency Services no longer uses the station to alert the public to disasters, so the county no longer pays for the use of the station. “The only thing the station is used for now is for a few public service announcements and the games,” she said.
Board Chairman Jason Noyes strongly pointed out “We’re not here to axe the radio station. We need to have a community conversation before we make any decision.”
Commissioner Lindsey Richtmyer commented in an interview the county is looking into the original radio station contract with the school. More information will be forthcoming. She is working with Hedalen and teacher Gary Bauman.
Board member Chase Ragen asked about the level of listenership. He felt the station had a loyal following and would be missed by people who do not have access to cellphones and the internet, such as those in the nursing homes or working in the fields on their farm equipment.
Middle School Principal Brad Racht weighed in saying he felt the station was underused as a teaching tool for communication, and for an additional method of reaching out to the public with school announcements and communiques.
The station was established in 2005 by then Superintendent Brian Patrick and was administered by Mia Whitfield who gathered sponsorships to pay fees and line up people who announced the games. “Brian started the process with the help of Lee Goode, of Whitehall. Brian saw the radio station would provide a public service by being an outlet for emergency services, school announcements and an opportunity for students to learn to run the station,” she said.
Kelly Flynn announced the basketball games beginning in 2005 until he won his legislative post in 2009. His brother Kevin began announcing games in 2010.
Emily Christiansen and Michele Hildreth, whose children attend Townsend Elementary School, approached the board to receive their approval to rejuvenate a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) in Broadwater County. Since COVID, classroom parents have not returned. Christiansen said in an interview, that she would like to help organize parent volunteers to cover lunchroom and playground duty during the week. Reinstituting room parents is a goal of the group as is helping run the annual book fair and the basket auction fundraiser for the teachers. While the group has a Facebook page it needs to raise funds. A monthly newsletter is on the horizon for the organizers as well. For more information go to Bulldog PTA on Facebook. The initial organizational meeting is at Reading Leaves Bookstore on Thursday, September 21 at 7:00 pm. Christiansen encouraged parents to attend.
Hedalen explained under Policy 4210, the group would need to organize and appoint a treasurer. The board approved organizing the association.
Townsend Schools had an active PTA in l970’s during Elementary Principal Herb Sprout’s tenure, according to retired teacher Helen Turcotte. “We were strongly encouraged to attend the meetings, but it got to the point parents did not come so the organization was abandoned somewhere around 1980,” she said.
