News @ the 112

Originally published in May, 2023 and updated in January, 2024.

Since 1979, ESD 112 has been home to The Vancouver Educational Television Consortium (TV ETC), a nonprofit organization consisting of seven Clark County school districts. The three principal districts, Vancouver Public Schools, Evergreen Public Schools, and Battle Ground School District, partner with ESD 112 staff to broadcast student and staff produced television programming that airs on Comcast channels 27, 28/328, and 29. In turn, TV ETC’s status as Clark County’s educational access provider serves to strengthen the video production programs of the principal school districts.

As an educational access provider, TV ETC’s full consortium members are eligible to apply for Public, Educational, Governmental (PEG) Access grant funding for equipment and infrastructure that aids in the production of local cable programming. The equipment and infrastructure the grant provides helps school districts strengthen their student video programs and broaden their classroom and extracurricular offerings. This funding gives students access to industry standard equipment, which they use in collaboration with district teachers and staff to create hundreds of hours of original programming each school year.

In 2024, Evergreen Public Schools is utilizing grant funds to upgrade the cameras used by video production students at Evergreen, Mountain View, and Union high schools. Evergreen will also be updating Union High School’s video production classroom by adding an NDI-capable video switcher to their control room, and other assorted equipment to the school’s studio.

Vancouver Public Schools is making improvements to their sports broadcast infrastructure. They are updating their scoreboard and graphics systems. They are also making improvements to their intercom systems and in-game announcer set-ups, including adding a wireless referee mic similar to those used for coverage of college and professional football games. The Vancouver School of Arts and Academics will also see significant improvements to their television studio infrastructure, with updated lighting systems and 4K PTZ cameras.

Tyme Sisakvanich hosts “Beyond the Headlines” at Columbia River High School in Vancouver.

Battle Ground School District will utilize this year’s grant funding to strengthen their broadcast infrastructure by adding new broadcast headsets, a new video switcher, and customer covers to protect their equipment while filming in adverse weather conditions.

“It’s a privilege to help schools give their students access to industry standard equipment,” says Xander Hayes, TV ETC Coordinator. “As the technology grows, so does the students’ opportunity and ability to provide quality coverage. The programs are expanding at some area high schools, and we’re seeing student announcers and newscasters start to flourish in their roles. The opportunities for students that this program provides are moving beyond just technical and behind the camera, but students are exploring their talents in front of the camera as well. It’s very rewarding to watch these students develop these skills and try to figure out what they may want to do after high school.”