Norwood High School is more than just new building for students and faculty to enjoy. It is also the new home of Norwood Public Access Television.
NPA-TV made the move into the school in July, and is now operating entirely out of the new Norwood High.
“I’m excited about where it is going to bring public access and how it will move public access into the future for the town of Norwood. The possibilities are endless,” Station Manager Jack Tolman said.
With a new home comes new furnishings, and NPA-TV has a wide range of new equipment for both the station and student use. This is due to an agreement between NPA-TV and the school department.
“The arrangement with the school department and Norwood Public Access is they provided some office space for the staff, and we would fund the entire (television) program,” Tolman said. “It’s a win-win for Norwood.”
Students get to use the state-of-the-art equipment and prepare for college in the new studio, while NPA has a place to call home, a home they’ve invested over $500,000 into this year.
“I look at this as an investment for the residents of Norwood. This belongs to them,” Tolman said. “The whole investment is about $520,000,” and this money was used to build the new studio, control room, and head end.
“The school department gave us the space, and Norwood Public Access spent $520,000 to outfit the studio to be state of the art,” Tolman said.
This equipment includes three studio cameras, two robotic cameras, a teleprompter, new sets, and a head-end, allowing them to broadcast their programming on Norwood Light Broadband, Comcast, and Verizon cable television.
The new studio was designed by Mystic Scenic Studios of Norwood. Mystic Scenic Studios has designed sets for ESPN and “Good Morning America,” and jumped at the opportunity to make a set for the local public access network.
Mystic Scenic President Jim Ray did the project at cost, saving NPA $13,000 in set design costs, Tolman said These sets will be seen on numerous local programs, including “Norwood Digest,” “Table Talk,” “NHS Update” and “Norwood News” once it returns.
Not all of the improvements come in the form of new equipment. It might sound small, but one key improvement is the installation of a separate entrance for NPA. Staff members can now access the Norwood High School at all hours, without fears of setting off an alarm as they enter.
“One of the most important things that was crucial for Norwood Public Access was to have our own separate entrance door 22,” Tolman said. “Before we even began the design, we knew* we needed our own entrance.”
He isn’t the only one excited about NPA’s move: Norwood High School TV Teacher Ann Kraus loves having the studio right next to her classroom.
“It’s awing. Students just walk in and go ‘Oh my God,’” Kraus said. “The studio just blows everyone away. The equipment, the professional aspect of it, this is something you will not see in many colleges.”
Students get to take advantage of the new* studio, as well as their new* classroom, which is about twice as large as its equivalent at the old Norwood Senior High. It is stocked with several Macs, each loaded with Final Cut Pro X. The new 7 classroom also has a whiteboard and projector, allowing for Kraus to demonstrate techniques in the classroom, before students go hands-on with the equipment.
“To have my fantastic students in a fantastic space, it’s a win-win,” Kraus said.
The students have already had a chance to utilize the studio. Several episodes of “NHS Update” have aired, and classes have already made use of the cameras.
“On the first day, I had students put their hands on the camera, and said they are now holding $40,000,” Tolman said. “The students know they have the opportunity to learn with state-of-the-art equipment.”
Tolman hopes that the public also comes in to take advantage of this equipment.
He said NPA plans on reintroducing their public access workshops for the community, and he hopes people use these workshops to create their own show7. They also have plans on holding an open house for the general community, as well as an open house for other towns’ public access programs.
Brad Cole-TRANSCRIPT BULLETIN
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)