With a new year comes big changes for the future of Walpole television and Walpole High. In 2013, Selectmen had voted to spend $10,000 of cable revenue to begin the process of creating a new cable television entity that would replace the current cable access channel, Walpole Community Television, to launch in the next couple of years. Now that January 2015 has arrived, Selectmen have began planning where to create a new studio for the channel. Walpole High has emerged as the best option with available space to expand its television studio for both the town and school.

Walpole Selectmen’s history of conflicts with Walpole Community Television has led to the establishment of the new channel. In 2008, Verizon agreed to pay over $520,000 over 15 years, split between the town and WCTV. In the last few years, however, Selectmen have accused WCTV Board members of using cable dollars for personal profit and have also questioned its proposed use of its significant funds to build a new studio.

In 2013, Selectmen cut off WCTV’s revenue from Comcast and Verizon because the station refused to make changes in its management of the money. WCTV had begun to build a Walpole High studio, but it was unable to finish before its revenue was cut.

This past September, Selectmen voted for the creation of a new cable television channel to replace WCTV. The WCTV Board could begin working with Selectmen to transfer the cable station’s remaining funds to the town and school department for various projects and to the new cable station.

The school has partnered with the town in the creation of the new cable studio: instead of two stations (WCTV and school channel) for 2015, there will be one that solely operates out of Walpole High.

Public Access Committee member Jim D’Attilio said, “The new channel combines the operations of all three of our channels, Public, Education and Government, and as a result, we will eliminate a major duplication of effort, equipment, facilities, and particularly people, both paid and volunteer, which will allow us to make the best possible use of all our resources.” A single studio will put all of the tower sources in one location for access by all three branches. It will also put all operations in a town building rather than have a portion conducted in privately owned space. Because the town will be funding the new studio, the high school will essentially receive double the money to run it.

Because the town will be funding the new studio, the high school will essentially receive double the money to run it. A shared space in Walpole High between students and town employees would allow students to work with full-time staff on educational programming during the day, and staff could work on public and governmental programs in the afternoon or night.

“The merging of the studios in Walpole High is a real positive for the school environment because students will get the chance to work with the town in the TV studio and gain some real life experience, which would provide them with internships and part time job opportunities,” said Principal Stephen Imbusch.

In order to expand the studio, the school must alter the layout of the current studio and staff offices near it. As of now, the classroom for students in the TV studio is at the center of the room, a space that town employees will need for their equipment in the future studio; thus the school must designate a separate instructional space for students during the day. The principal is looking to create this classroom for TV students in the Janitor’s main supply closet, which is adjacent to the studio.

For certain, there are challenges when it comes to creating more space for the studio. D’Attilio said, “Integrating all three branches together is a process that will take work, time, and include numerous small adjustments. Space is always at a premium in school buildings, so that will require careful planning, but it’s an adjustment that can evolve over time.”

Despite the setbacks of organizing space for the studio, TV students are excited about the expansion.

Walpole High TV anchor Brendan Jeanetti said, “Right now I have to bring in most of my equipment, like my laptop, iPad and flash drives, so I think that expanding the studio and getting more realistic equipment will help people like me who have an interest in broadcasting to be one step ahead of other students in college.”

High school students and staff alike are enthusiastic about the expansion of the studio and see it as a positive development for Walpole High and its students. The project is set to begin this month once the partnership is established and completed as soon as school opens next September.