Orem residents speak up at council meeting on feasibility study | News, Sports, Jobs

Orem residents speak up at council meeting on feasibility study | News, Sports, Jobs
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Harrison Epstein, Every day Herald

Orem Town is proven from higher than on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

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With superior feelings encompassing the long term of education in Orem, citizens pressured to the Orem Metropolis Council on Tuesday that they are not versus a feasibility research currently being finished they issue the validity and experience of the contracted firm doing the examine.

In the course of the meeting’s open up mic portion, which lets residents to speak for up to a few minutes on items not on the agenda, up to 30 persons stood in line to comment on the analyze and the contracted vendor, Discovery Education and learning Consultants.

Some residents sought after a new company to do the feasibility review, some others spoke of splitting from the Alpine University District in advance of they could place a bond on the ballot, most ended up just inquiring for a research that handles all the bases and is finished to the optimum expert criteria.

In the course of the community remark time period, Orem resident Cissy Rasmussen introduced Mayor Dave Young and the council with a petition seeking a modify in vendor. The petition was place on http://modify.org on Sunday and by Tuesday’s conference there were about 1,300 signatures. The petition had around 1,600 by Wednesday evening.

“I stand all set to converse to you about feasibility and the district’s reconfiguration displays,” mentioned Ada Wilson, an elected Orem consultant to the ASD Board of Education and learning. “I am an advocate for Orem households.”

Wilson stood in the back, striving to right things staying said that she was involved have been not absolutely correct. A few residents heckled her in the course of the discussion board.

Many lecturers also shared their problems about leaving the ASD and the prospective penalties. Elizabeth Ludwig teaches at Lakeridge Junior High and states she is not versus the research. Even so, Ludwig claimed many of her trainer associates would “leave if the break up happened.” She is also anxious, as an Orem resident, on the feasible house tax ramifications.

Knowledge shows that when the Canyons University District broke from the Jordan District, property homeowners in the new district experienced their home tax raise incrementally calendar year to yr, now up to 40{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf} extra than before the break up. Jordan District assets entrepreneurs have found a 20{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf} boost considering that the separation was carried out virtually 10 several years back.

Some non-residents also spoke, adamant that Orem should fall from the ASD in advance of the district places a new bond on the ballot.

“The (ASD) board has not taken motion to put a bond on the ballot in November,” explained Rob Smith, ASD organization administrator. “If the board made a decision to choose that action, they must do so prior to Aug. 24, 2022, as the resolution need to be signed and delivered to the Lieutenant Governor’s business by shut of business enterprise on Aug. 24.”

A single person proclaimed with no proof that the alleged bond would be $500 million. Smith, while, discussed to the council and group the funding structure of any feasible bond.

“If the board did determine a bond is required and acted to place it on the ballot in November (if approved by voters), we would construction the financing in this sort of a way to keep the influence to taxpayers in the current debt support tax amount or much less. This is what we have strived to do with every bond considering the fact that the 2000 bond,” Smith stated.

Kay Clark, a retired instructor living in Orem, pointed out that taxes would be lifted substantially if there was a split. She extra that Orem’s school populations have been trending downward for the earlier 20 decades and never look to be transferring up anytime before long, as a result triggering a want for Orem pupils to continue to be under the much larger college district that delivers courses which could be misplaced or diminished with a smaller sized district.

Orem resident Scott Swain called for the split, indicating that ASD was “arrogant.”

Next the open up mic period of time, Youthful readdressed a press launch that arrived out before and showcased the biographical info on the males who made Discovery Education Consultants. Youthful also indicated that some facts staying spread is dependent on non-truths and are not precise.

Young designed it clear that if a decision was created to break up, it would be designed by the voters of Orem — not the mayor or metropolis council.

The details on Discovery Education Consultants suggests that instructional and fiscal backgrounds of the organization founders provides together almost 100 a long time of experience. Paul McCarty is the crucial determine in the enterprise.

McCarty is also top a team of individuals in Draper that is searching for to split away from the Canyons School District to sort a Draper Faculty District.

At about the same time the Orem Town Council was meeting, the Draper City Council and Draper Mayor Troy K. Walker issued its have statement on McCarty’s group throughout its conference. It is the 2nd time the Draper officials have set out a statement on the group and the difficulty of splitting from Canyons District.

“For numerous months a group of Draper people has been pursuing the generation of a new college district that would be exclusively inside the Draper metropolis boundaries and which would need a separation from the Canyons University District,” the assertion mentioned. “Although the mayor and council have achieved with this team at their ask for, neither Draper Metropolis nor its elected officials have been involved with the conception of this proposal, nor with the endeavor to transfer the process forward. At this time, the Mayor and Council do not assistance a split from the Canyons School District.”

Walker offered more facts about the legalities and split tasks between a city and faculty district on the subject.

“Should this team decide to proceed down this route, State regulation delivers an different route for the generation of a faculty district. This team is absolutely free to go after a citizens initiative petition method administered by Salt Lake County should really they pick out to do so,” the assertion concludes. It was signed by the mayor and all members of the city council.

McCarty and his group have not formally offered in advance of the Draper Council, according to Linda Peterson, the city’s director of communications.

“I was the initial a single they contacted,” Walker advised the Daily Herald. “They confirmed me the thought of a faculty district split and I instructed them they would have to show too much to handle local community support for it.”

Walker achieved with McCarty for a next time just ahead of Christmas. He also inspired them to chat to council users. He pointed out the group was seeking the difficulty on the ballot later on this year.

Even right after observing what Walker and council associates stated was a very simplistic presentation, he explained to them, “There is just no fascination. We believe Canyons does a phenomenal job.”

Walker proposed the group glimpse into a charter university if they have been involved about curriculum.

McCarty has advised Walker the two main factors for seeking a scaled-down district are curriculum handle and scaled-down class dimensions.

Walker explained to them curriculum is established by the State Board of Education and learning and a superior way to attain the 17-to-a-course plan is to insert a lot more buildings and far more academics.

“There are 2,500 Draper young ones that go exterior Draper for university,” Walker claimed. Draper is just scarcely on the cusp of the essential 50,000 inhabitants to have its possess district.

Speaking of McCarty’s team, Walker stated, “It’s a resolution searching for a dilemma,” and extra that his town has not, and does not, endorse Discovery Instruction Consultants.

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‘Our future is built on our past’: Shepherd University Wellness Center dedicated in honor of former president | News, Sports, Jobs

‘Our future is built on our past’: Shepherd University Wellness Center dedicated in honor of former president | News, Sports, Jobs
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‘Our future is built on our past’: Shepherd University Wellness Center dedicated in honor of former president | News, Sports, Jobs

From suitable, SU President Mary J.C. Hendrix and Mayor Jim Auxer stand beside former SU president Suzanne Shipley, as she retains a plaque presented to her by Hendrix, in commemoration of the Wellness Center’s commitment in her honor on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A team of 67 community associates, Shepherd University workers and honorees collected jointly in the Shepherd College Wellness Center’s arena on Saturday afternoon, to witness the dedication of the centre underneath a new name — the Suzanne Shipley Wellness Middle.

Renamed in honor of Shepherd University’s 15th president, who served from 2007-2015, the middle now bears signage pertaining to its identify modify, 1 signal of which was unveiled during the dedication ceremony.

“It is basically not feasible to element all of Dr. Shipley’s amazing achievements even though she was at Shepherd, but I would like to share some noteworthy highlights with you right now, because they are extraordinary,” stated Shipley’s successor, latest Shepherd University President Mary J.C. Hendrix. “During her tenure, Dr. Shipley introduced the university into the Council of Public Liberal Arts Schools, identified as COPLAC, a North American consortium of general public colleges and universities that drives awareness of the price of substantial-high quality, public liberal arts education at its member institutions — an group for which she also served as president. Dr. Shipley’s enduring legacy involves overseeing the accreditation of academic systems, laying the basis to grow Shepherd’s worldwide college student population.

“She also orchestrated the design of the underpass, uniting the east and west campuses, which she was informed could not be finished!” Hendrix reported. “Dr. Shipley was vital in serving to to raise $26 million by means of the university’s initially complete marketing campaign, referred to as Create the Potential. The marketing campaign exceeded its $20 million target intention and was accomplished a calendar year early.”

Shipley expressed her thanks for the commitment, and mentioned how her tenure would not have been as successful as it was, without the need of the assist of her spouse and children, mentors and fellow Shepherd University leaders.

A indicator prominently displays the Shepherd University Wellness Center’s new name on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

“I’m grateful for the Shepherd College custom, of like educational leaders in its facilities’ names, and I’m humbled to take my area below beside President James Butcher, professor of physical training Dr. Sara Cree and the famous chair of new music Male Frank,” Shipley reported. “Here, . . . I was able to keep my own wellness, actual physical and psychological, by working out along with our school, staff and learners, and Shepherd supporters like Mayor Auxer. In simple fact, it’s a defining reason of the centre, in that it delivers all of these teams collectively to satisfy a number of demands in this area.

“All of us add to the Shepherd tale. Some epics of our 150-calendar year-outdated story are marked on names of buildings, but surely, not all. Universities like Shepherd, exactly where just about every person counts and every single name is recognized, are compendiums of particular person effort and hard work,” Shipley explained. “Every specific and every single work counts, and it is more vital currently than at any time that all those endeavours continue, mainly because today, more than at any time, a household liberal arts practical experience such as ours, generates the dynamic and very well-educated leaders that our area demands. Our future is crafted on our earlier, but our potential is normally remaining developed, like today, and by you.”

Mayor Jim Auxer closed out the ceremony with a couple feelings on the appropriateness of the determination, considering his private and experienced encounters as Shepherdstown’s mayor all through Shipley’s tenure.

“To have this facility, a community accumulating spot, now focused as the Suzanne Shipley Wellness Middle, feels far more than ideal. Suzanne and I would satisfy below to explore subjects of great importance to us both of those. But our key intention was caring about our exercise,” Auxer mentioned. “We talked about the want for preserving the city-gown marriage, which I imagine actually is wonderful (to this working day). You can not convey to exactly where a single commences and just one ends!”

The commitment conclusion was created by the Shepherd University Board of Governors, through its June 10, 2021 assembly, according to SU Communications Govt Director Dana Costa.

Shepherd College President Mary J.C. Hendrix, left, will help former president Suzanne Shipley unveil a signal, about Shipley’s tenure, in the Suzanne Shipley Wellness Centre arena on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

Community customers and Shepherd College workforce mingle alongside one another in the Suzanne Shipley Wellness Centre foyer, prior to Saturday’s commitment ceremony. Tabitha Johnston

Shepherd University President Mary J.C. Hendrix formally announces the devotion of the Suzanne Shipley Wellness Heart in the center’s arena on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

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Orem residents uneasy about vendor for school district feasibility study | News, Sports, Jobs

Orem residents uneasy about vendor for school district feasibility study | News, Sports, Jobs
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Courtesy Orem Metropolis

This undated photograph shows an aerial see of Orem. Town leaders are commissioning a feasibility study to see if the metropolis warrants its have faculty district.

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Orem is carrying out a feasibility study to determine the desirability for its possess district and it has some citizens angry.

There are a host of worries for inhabitants, to start with staying with the seller choice procedure — and a feasible conflict of desire with the operator of the company employed to do the review.

Discovery Schooling Consultants, LLC was chosen by Orem’s Director of Legislative Counsel Jesse L. Riddle. In announcing the chosen enterprise by means of press release it was famous that, “this extremely capable crew of experts has quite a few a long time of expertise in college district administration, educational management, curriculums and finance.”

It did not mention it has completed feasibility research on splitting districts. It also did not mention the organization was produced in February, with the formal title staying registered with the Point out of Utah on Feb. 7 of this 12 months.

On Monday the town declared that Discovery Education and learning Consultants would be the vendor and be paid out a sum of $30,000.

Apart from additional than 200 remarks relating to the new district and the vetting course of action, just one individual has filed a complaint with the Point out Auditor’s office environment versus Orem’s procurement officer Trevor Bell and his manager, Metropolis Manager Jamie Davidson. Bell is accountable for procuring the deal seller and Davidson is his excellent. Neither guy seemingly experienced involvement in the course of action, as it was assigned to the place of work of legislative council and was not place via a complete Request for Proposal.

The grievance, submitted by Jonathan Bejarano, a resident of Highland, also notes that, “Concerns that the seller collection criteria of ‘No conflicts of interest’ was not adopted as an elected city council member, Terry D. Peterson is buddies with F. LaVar Christensen, a member of the Discovery Instruction Consultants Staff.”

A call was put to Peterson on one of his two cellphone lines he owns but the phone was not returned.

“The system to solicit bids for a consultant to do an Orem University District feasibility review was not in violation of our buying plan, as it relates to the procurement of specialist providers (see Orem City Code 2-7-6),” stated Steven Downs, deputy city supervisor.

Bejarano submitted a Federal government Documents Access and Administration Act request to the metropolis asking for the names of those on the vetting committee. The response was, “Jesse L. Riddle is the identify. I vetted and chose the Firm, as directed by the City Council and in compliance with Utah Law. I did not make use of a ‘scoring card.’”

In the Arrangement for Consulting Expert services it notes that the consultant shall get the job done with the Director of the Business office of Legislative Counsel — Riddle.

From the GRAMA request, it appears the selection was vetted only by Riddle and no one particular on the council, attorney’s office or city administration had been concerned.

In a letter to Mayor Dave Youthful and the City Council, Orem resident Cissy Rasmussen notes her worries on the challenge.

“The alternative of Discovery Education Consultants and Dr. Paul McCarty will not fulfill your goals of impartial and independent. Even though I feel that facts are facts no matter of who shares them, in this scenario, the conflicts of fascination are so powerful that this examine can’t be taken very seriously. To be blunt, it will reflect poorly on you. It will destruction general public belief that you genuinely want a trusted, impartial analyze,” Rasmussen reported.

Rasmussen then sets forth her challenges with the contractor noting that, “many men and women have been sending me methods that they obtain troubling.”

Rasmussen stated that the most “egregious bias” is the truth that McCarty sales opportunities a team that wishes to break up the Canyons District to make a Draper district. She provides there is “no evidence that he (McCarty) has any working experience with undertaking this style of study.”

Draper’s Metropolis Council has no fascination in splitting with the Canyons District at this time and is not intrigued in the idea.

Orem would be a person of the initial contracts for the newly produced Discovery Education Consultants, if not the first.

Rasmussen shared an electronic mail she received from Draper resident Chad Iverson that says, “Paul McCarty is not an pro. He has under no circumstances performed a feasibility review in his lifetime. He doesn’t have the money expertise desired to perform this examine. He sat in my residing area in January and explained to me he felt it was his ‘calling’ to generate a secession from Canyons University District. … If you are looking for an impartial, third bash, to assess whether or not Orem really should secede from the ASD (Alpine School District), it definitely is not him.”

“Although this is 1 person’s belief, I uncover it worthwhile mainly because it displays once again that Dr. McCarty is deeply concerned in splitting university districts,” Rasmussen added. She requested the town, “Please redo the RFP approach and decide on a additional competent, less biased contractor. That will give all of us the greatest benefits for generating selections.”

Rasmussen shared information on two Facebook internet pages, Town of Orem Governing administration and Much more4Orem. Feedback, likes and shares were prolific with a variety of responses talking about the need for the review, expressing a drive to split from ASD, questioning the vendor’s selecting system and extra.

It seems for the moment that, pursuing a feasibility research, people have the prospect to communicate out on the examine and perhaps will have a opportunity to vote on it this November.

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Williamstown Council discusses old elementary school, community building | News, Sports, Jobs

Williamstown Council discusses old elementary school, community building | News, Sports, Jobs
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WILLIAMSTOWN — Williamstown Town Council achieved Tuesday to explore the development of the outdated Williamstown Elementary School and the pool.

Council member Pat Peters was absent from the assembly.

Mayor Paul Jordan stated they are nonetheless doing the job on obtaining the information and facts together to set a bid out on the demolition of the old Williamstown Elementary College.

Council member Marty Seufer, finance chair, mentioned he would really like to have a stakeholders assembly for the neighborhood creating that council is arranging to build over the college. Council agreed to have a assembly on May possibly 3 at 6 p.m. at the Williamstown Center/Higher College Auditorium.

Council plans to invite the county library, Fenton Artwork Glass, the Senior Centre and the Lions Club to take part in the conference to see if the groups are intrigued in doing work with council on the community centre.

Seufer explained any other space teams that are wanting for a location to identify that would be fascinated in encouraging council renovate section of the faculty developing, or would probably like to be a tenant in the new local community middle is welcome to join the assembly.

Council member Randy Dick announced the opening working day of the Williamstown Pool would be Might 28, the Saturday right before Memorial Day. Dick stated the chemical controller for the pool will be set up on April 13. He also reported the metropolis has been authorised for the Williamstown Fund for Excellence grant from the Parkersburg Region Local community Basis. He stated this $1,075 grant will shell out for an computerized vacuum to aid thoroughly clean the pool.

Seufer questioned council to take into consideration a pay out boost for elected officials. He said the city pays council $200 a thirty day period and the mayor $1,500 a month. He proposed an improve to $250 for council members and $2,000 for the mayor. He reported the modify would not go into result

July 1 for new customers.

“We are still miles powering our surrounding metropolitan areas,” Seufer mentioned.

Council authorized the very first reading and will have a next looking at on the spend enhance at the future town council meeting.

Seufer brought up government periods, and how the ethics commissions said that particular person general public bodies need to make their own rules regarding executive sessions. Council accredited the 1st reading to establish a coverage pertaining to govt classes and will have the next examining at the subsequent council meeting.

Council appointed a sidewalk committee to assist with the sidewalk task and the $100,000 grant cash from the point out.

Committee members are Peters, Dan Rinard, Brandon White and Maria Hardy. The initial buy of small business will be reviewing two bids for engineering solutions, which the committee will then refer again to council for a final decision.

In other news, General public Operates will commence street sweeping the last two weeks of April and will begin flushing hydrants at the commencing of Could.

James Dobbs can be attained at

[email protected]

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Orem selects consultant for feasibility study on new school district | News, Sports, Jobs

Orem residents uneasy about vendor for school district feasibility study | News, Sports, Jobs
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Courtesy Orem Metropolis

This undated picture reveals an aerial see of Orem. City leaders are commissioning a feasibility study to see if the metropolis warrants its have school district.

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Shortly immediately after Orem Mayor Dave Young and the Town Council took the oath of place of work in January, a retreat was held to talk about difficulties of big relevance to the new mayor, the council and Orem people.

In that assembly, the council voted 7- to shift forward with a feasibility study to identify no matter if or not Orem should really produce its individual university district.

Around the earlier 30 or extra a long time, the concept of Orem owning its personal university district, with perhaps Lindon and Winery signing up for on, has been floated about, but the timing was seemingly never ever correct. Some residents now sense that it is.

Immediately after examining two competent candidates, the metropolis has announced that Discovery Education and learning Consultants has been selected to complete the feasibility review. The Discovery crew has many decades of experience in faculty district administration, educational administration, curriculums and finance, according Pete Wolfley, a town spokesman.

Paul McCarty is heading up the Discovery group. He served 40 decades in the Granite School District as a general public school principal and district business office administrator, and he also taught for extra than 30 yrs at Brigham Youthful College in the departments of schooling, family members everyday living and psychology as an adjunct professor. He served on the Draper Town Council and Canyons College Board and was concerned in the 2007 generation, development and corporation of the Canyons Faculty District in Utah.

In addition, McCarty worked intently with the Utah Legislature to enact regulations to ensure the accomplishment of new school districts. This features the Faculty District Division Funding Invoice that results in mechanisms to be certain that college students and academics are guarded when a university district is split.

Recognitions obtained by McCarty include things like the Jon & Karen Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education and learning, the Granite University District and Utah Principal of the Calendar year awards and the United States Air Power Distinguished Civic Chief of Utah Award.

“This feasibility review is the 1st action to ascertain no matter if or not it makes perception for Orem to have its possess School District,” McCarty claimed. “The concentration of this review will be threefold. To start with, what is in the finest desire of the college students. 2nd, how to retain our fantastic educators with aggressive salaries and advantages. 3rd, is the creation of a new district fiscally possible. Our workforce of fiscal and training gurus are energized to get started function on this job.”

Additional Wolfley, “The mayor and Orem City Council are pleased with Dr. McCarty’s willingness to assist in this undertaking and glimpse forward to examining the results of the study.”

When the analyze is completed, the City Council will release the feasibility analyze on the city web site and via other media outlets. They will then assessment the feasibility analyze so that just about every council member may ascertain if it is or is not possible to kind a new faculty district. The Metropolis Council intends to talk about this examine in open meetings so that the general public can provide their enter.

If the Metropolis Council votes in the affirmative, the question will then be positioned on the ballot and voted on by the inhabitants of Orem. A new university district might only be made if the bulk vote for a new district.

Those people who would like to know a lot more about the review and why it is getting carried out may perhaps visit orem.org/schooldistrictstudy.

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PACF grant allows Kanawha Elementary School to expand broadcasting program | News, Sports, Jobs

PACF grant allows Kanawha Elementary School to expand broadcasting program | News, Sports, Jobs

PACF grant allows Kanawha Elementary School to expand broadcasting program | News, Sports, Jobs

Fourth-grade teachers Sarah Minor, left, and Stacy Allman, right, stand in the newly-renovated Brave House broadcasting room at Kanawha Elementary School. A nearly $4,000 grant awarded by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation will allow the school’s Brave House Broadcast Project to purchase new and specialized equipment for students to use to produce new video and audio content. (Photo Provided)

DAVISVILLE — Kanawha Elementary School will revamp and upgrade its student media studio in the coming months thanks to a grant from the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation.

Fourth-grade teachers Stacy Allman and Sarah Minor said the nearly $4,000 grant will allow the Brave House Broadcast Project to purchase green screen equipment, new cameras and microphones and other equipment to produce student-led video content.

Students in Kanawha Elementary School belong to one of four Brave Houses which compete in character-building challenges and community service projects. The student media room has been renovated to include colors and logos from each of the four Brave Houses.

Students do a daily video broadcast called Breakfast with Brave House.

“It’s video announcements with content,” Allman said.

They also create standalone videos of events and projects throughout the school. Fifth-grade students act as house leaders, broadcasters and IT support.

Most of the video recording and editing now is done only with Wood County Schools-issued iPads. Students and staff have repeatedly run into the limitations of the technology, including poor audio, insufficient lighting and limited recording capabilities.

“We noticed the quality of the video was not that good for the amount of effort out students were putting into them,” Allman said. “The sound was pretty poor. When you are broadcasting to the school, you want it to look and sound good.”

The new grant-purchased equipment will allow the students to greatly improve their broadcasting capabilities, and officials hope they will be able to offer help to area agencies in producing video and audio content.

“I’m excited to get new equipment that I have never used, that the kids have never used” Minor said. “A lot of kids are interested in that content creator space. It is popular and very high interest. I think it is really going to benefit the students.”

“They look for stories throughout the school” and opportunities to showcase other classes, Allman said. For example, students produced a segment where kindergarteners told Thanksgiving-related jokes and third-graders created their own Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.

“The students work really hard. They have a lot of pride in what they do,” Allman said.

Minor said the specialized equipment will not only allow them to produce more polished content, but also will provide more opportunities for students to learn writing, broadcasting and editing skills.

“It is incredible how fast those skills develop,” Minor said.

Officials plan to purchase the equipment and begin producing new and improved content in January.




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