Posted: 12/9/05

by Jeff Achen
Thisweek Newspapers

Over the next four weeks crews will put the finishing touches on Apple Valley High School's new $185,000 television studio.

Fitted with state-of-the-art video production technology, the studio will be a place for students to learn about the latest in modern media and produce their own news shows. Yet, none of this would be a first for Independent School District 196.

On any given school day at 8:15 a.m., Eagan teacher Paul Saxton stands in the middle of the school's television control room, where television shows are directed and produced from, and speaks in a new language.

“Take the DV 500, but make sure it's back tomorrow. Are you gonna have a ‘reader' or are you doing a VOSOT?”

It's the language of electronic video production, and his students know it well.

Eagan began a broadcast journalism program in 1995. Over the years teachers in the program have solicited grants and exploited any opportunity to be a demo site for the latest electronics manufacturers.

“I'm banging on doors constantly. We have to continue and find and work on fundraising opportunities,” Saxton said.

Today, the set of “Eagan AM” at Eagan High School reflects the design and quality of anything one might find on ESPN. Inside the control room, high school senior and the show's director/producer Emmy Garner gives instructions through her headset to the light and sound operators. Lights come up and the “on-air” light flickers on. It's enough to elicit “oohs” and “ahs” from even the most experienced television journalist. Not only because of the high technology in use here, but due to the fact that it's in the hands of high schoolers.

“I think it's really amazing the stuff we get to work with,” Garner said. “I've heard that other schools have nothing compared to what we have.”

Saxton said his students have gone into college programs as freshmen and instantly been put into a junior position in their broadcast journalism programs.

The stories are the same from programs at Rosemount and Eastview. Rosemount video and film production teacher Jim Norris said he's always striving to align technology education in his classes with colleges and universities like NYU, USC and UCLA.

Norris runs the district's only basic and advanced video production classes. They focus on short film and documentary making. The classes are federally and state funded because they fall under career development courses.

“We have a lot of kids that want to become television producers and video game designers and go to college for that,” Norris said. “These classes lay the foundation for it.”

Award winners

Part of the edge District 196 students get comes from the accolades. Under the direction of broadcasting teachers Tyler Krebs and Nick Fornicoia, 23 Eastview broadcasting students were recognized as All-Minnesota Editors, All-State Journalists, and Distinguished Journalists by the Minnesota High School Press Association for the 2004-2005 school year.

They won two regional Emmy awards in 2004-2005 for technical achievement and writing. Eastview students also won a 2004 Communicator Award for “The Flash Multicultural Show.”

Krebs said the programs have really grown over the last five to 10 years, but Eastview's program has always had a strong student focus.

“The big thing in our schools is we want our kids to get involved,” Krebs said. “[The Flash] highlights all the activities our kids do. Also, because of the quality of what we're doing, it's pretty well regarded.”

To add yet another amazing element to the story, many of the teachers say they are learning how to teach these concepts as they go.

Saxton has his master's degree in Spanish. Krebs and Fornicoia are English teachers with some background in communications and telecommunications. Rosemount's Jim Norris is the only one who comes to his program with significantly more video and film production experience. He worked for Alpha Video doing editing, post production and software training and support.

The man who started it all with Eagan's studio in 1995 was Cliff Dodge. Dodge worked for Alpha Video, and because he did not have his teaching license he began working alongside teachers to start up the television program.

Tyler Krebs worked with Dodge when he moved to Eastview to start their program. Dodge has since gone back to Alpha Video, but what he started is changing young lives.

“I moved here last year from the Singapore American School and they didn't have anything like this,” Eastview senior Carter Stanton said. “I thought it was amazing. That's what spurred my interest in it. Once I saw the set and some of the shows, I thought this is something. It's helped me realize what I want to do.”

Stanton said all the colleges he's looking at now are film schools. Eagan senior Emmy Garner said she's now considering a career in public relations. Eastview senior Erinn North, who's dream job would be anchoring for ESPN, said the opportunity to try broadcasting in high school is helping her make a better decision about college.

“If this is something I really want to pursue, I will have the opportunity,” North said.

Media savvy

Whether it's broadcast journalism, film or documentary making, or any other aspect of video production, District 196 students will continue to have cutting edge opportunities as Apple Valley adds its program to the mix. Apple Valley Principal Steve Degenaar said its program will develop its own personality as they select the next video production teacher.

The students, however, are already lined up. If Apple Valley's program is anything like the others, students will have to go through an application process that includes teacher recommendations, an essay stating reasons and interests, and prerequisite course work.

“I think video has permeated almost every aspect of our life,” Saxton said. “It's on the Web. It's on the phones. Video is everywhere. When you think that the average kid watches four hours of TV per day, I think it's about time that we tap into that.”

Saxton believes an equally powerful benefit of these programs lies in teaching kids how to watch the media with a more critical eye.

“I know a lot of these kids won't go into television production, but if they can leave here with that critical observation of television, then I've done my job,” Saxton said.

Teachers say the television broadcast programs in District 196 are breaking down barriers, linking school communities, and launching careers. No finals in these classes, just the work itself. The kids, well, they're passing with flying colors.

Jeff Achen can be reached at av.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.