Students seek grant for live broadcasts

WINSTED — The Gilbert School may soon find itself with the capacity to record and broadcast meetings, performances and other events that take place at the school thanks to the hard work of the district’s political science class this year.

The class, headed by teacher Donald Goetz, has put together a grant proposal that, if approved, would allow the school to purchase the state-of-the-art recording, editing and production equipment needed to air live broadcasts on local public access television Channel 13.

Currently, the school does not have the ability to record and broadcast events live. And so, the political science class — which organized and hosted both of Winsted’s candidates debates during last fall’s municipal election — decided to find a way to allow the district to purchase the equipment.

Goetz said the first step for the group was to contact Charter Communications, which sponsors and manages Channel 13 as part of its cable television lineup. The students found out from the company that a small portion of every customer’s cable bill goes to fund a “kitty� that has been set aside for special projects.

“And you are able to apply for grants from it,� Goetz told the Gilbert School Corp. during its May 19 meeting.

The grant applications are reviewed and approved by the state’s Department of Public Utility Control.

With the information in hand, Goetz said “the class then took it upon themselves to find out all the things that would be needed� to set up a mobile broadcast unit for the school.

Once their equipment research was complete, the students then wrote the grant proposal themselves. Before sending the application to the state, however, Goetz presented the proposal to the Gilbert school board for its review. The board approved the application unanimously.

“I commend you for your efforts,� Gilbert School Corp. Chairman Steven Sedlack said to the students.

Goetz said if they do receive the funding from the state for the equipment, the grant would allow the school “to expand into all new course offerings� and create new educational opportunities for students.

“And it would be good for the town, too,� he said, referring to live broadcasts of town-related meetings at the school.

Goetz said he is hoping to receive a decision for the state commission in about six months.

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