By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — A week after voting to televise their meetings to some extent, a majority of Board of Education members indicated on Sept. 26 that they wish to air all of their public meetings in their entirety on EBTV.
In an informal tally, the board voted 6-3 to show the meetings in their complete form, with the exception of closed sessions, which in accordance with state law are not open to the public. The board actually took three votes at the meeting — one on whether to televise meetings in their entirety; a second regarding televising all of the meetings; and another authorizing the district to get started with the process of purchasing equipment.
On a motion by member Michael Danatos, the board voted 6-3 to purchase $27,000 worth of televising equipment and to have it installed as soon as possible. As part of that vote, the board is requiring that the administration inform board members which budgetary areas are drawn from for the purchase.
Danatos, along with board members Patrick Sirr, Charles King, Jodi Doud, Vicki Becker and board President Michael Baker, voted in favor of the motion. Members Holly Howard, Dennis Lai and Susan Lamond cast the dissenting votes.
Superintendent of Schools Jamie P. Savedoff said the district has thoroughly researched the expenses associated with airing the meetings on EBTV and found that, regardless of whether the meetings are shown live or on tape, the start-up equipment will cost about $25,000. An audio mixer, which would cost another $2,500, may also be needed.
He said the labor costs would be about $125 to $150 for each three-hour meeting.
Televising the meetings live would cost an extra $10,500 because equipment would be needed for both ends of the cable fiber runs, which present the signal, he said. Officials are not sure yet if it has sufficient fiber runs, however.
Savedoff said the district is "still working with the issue of live feeds," and the latest information from Comcast is that the company will not use any fiber that may have been run by the district.
"They won’t use fiber anyone else installed," he said.
Regardless of whether it goes live or on tape, the district will use a three-camera remote system similar to the one used for Township Council meetings, he said.
"It would be of that quality," Savedoff said.
There will be two tapes made of each board meeting, one that the board secretary will save and another for EBTV, he said.
The telecasts could begin in six weeks if the district is able to purchase the equipment under state contract. If it needs to go out for bid, a three-month time frame is more likely.
The superintendent said two people will be needed to run the cameras. While one will be a professional, it is possible that a student could serve as the assistant, he said.
EBTV has already agreed to open a time slot for the board meetings to be shown live on Thursday nights, when the meetings are held at 8 p.m., Savedoff said. If the board wants to simply show the tapes of the meetings, EBTV would air them on the Friday nights and Sunday afternoons following the meetings, and then again the following week.
"My understanding is they would adjust their schedule" to accommodate live feeds, he said of the station.
There is still a question about where the money for the equipment and labor costs will come from. Savedoff said the most likely targets would the district’s equipment or maintenance accounts.
"The money may have to end up coming out of surplus," he added, however.
However, after discussing the matter with district Business Administrator Bernardo Giuliani, the board indicated that it will seek to use interlocal agreements to pay for this year’s expenses.
"It wouldn’t cost us anything this year," Baker said.
The board could also look to the Township Council for money.
"They are very passionate about us doing this," Baker said in reference to a resolution recently passed by the council urging the board to air its meetings.
The school budget is very limited because the board had to shave $2.6 million from it after voters defeated two budget questions in April.
The board also discussed where to hold its meetings. Councilwoman Meryle Asaro recently suggested the council chambers in order to save money, as that room is already equipped for television.
While King said he liked the idea, Baker said he would be opposed to holding board meetings in the council chambers.
"This is our venue," Baker said of the board’s meeting room, off Route 18.
Lamond also protested, saying she is "adamantly opposed" to having the meetings "in their kitchen."
The board still wants to draft a policy governing behavior and speech at the televised meetings, and members said a policy subcommittee would work to that end.
Board members explained they are concerned about people using profanity or making remarks that could result in litigation.

