By: Tom Layman

2/19/09

 After looking for nearly five years, Brookline Access Television (BATV) has found a new home. 

The cable access station will be moving to Brookline High School in June as part of a brand new $1.9 million project. 

The funding for the project comes from Comcast, RCN and money put aside by the station ,said Peter Zawadzki, executive director of BATV. No tax dollars from Brookline residents will be involved.

"We don't feel that realistically the town's money should be in the mix in an access center," said Zawadzki.

BATV has been operating out of the old Lincoln School on Boylston Street in Brookline, and Zawadzki said the temporary spot did not allow the station to operate correctly.

"This space is inconvenient. It's not a proper studio," said Zawadzki. "It's just not at all conducive to an access center." 

The new facility will include two separate studios, two control rooms, a 25-seat viewing room and two large classrooms that can hold up to 15 people for various editing and graphic design projects.

After building similar studios in Watertown and Natick, Zawadzki was brought on board to find a permanent place for Brookline Access Television. He said he hopes the new facility will allow BATV to be a measuring stick for other access centers.

"I think Brookline has the capabilities of being one of the top-tier public access centers in the entire country," said Zawadzki.

Selectman Betsy DeWitt shared in the excitement over the new project. "This is a win for Brookline Access Television, Brookline High School and the Brookline community," she said.

Students will have access to their own separate wing during the school day, and two new television production classes are being added to the curriculum. 

Peter Rowe, deputy superintendent for administration and finance of Brookline High School, said the new facility would be a plus for the students. "It allows us to expand our programs, and our students will have the opportunity to work alongside a professional staff," said Rowe.

While residents of Brookline do not have to pay for the project, Zawadzki said he wants the community to feel as if it would be getting its money's worth in the new facility by offering assistance with all media and technology, not just television.

"We are all about foot-traffic," Zawadzki said. "We want to bring people in to use the facility. If you're going to use it as a TV station that's great, but if you're going to use it in any other way that's great as well. The goal of this facility is to have it open to the public for everything."

BATV will be offering workshops where anyone from the community can learn nearly 1,000 different computer programs. It will be expanding the adult and continuing education courses and will allow anyone to come in and learn how to use all of the equipment.

The private bidding for the project will begin in April and Zawadzki hopes all major construction will be finished over the summer.