Bloomfield Hills Students Start Making Waves

BLOOMFIELD TWP.—There's a new wrinkle in the sky. Students at Bloomfield Hills Schools start making waves—air waves.

The district’s new 10-watt educational radio station, WBFH, Friday began broadcasting in stereo at 88.1 on the FM dial.

WBFH studios are located in both Andover and Lahser high schools, but the 100-foot transmitting tower and central control board are at Andover, which is close to the geographic center of the district. Live broadcasts from Lahser will be tied in to the transmitter with telephone lines.

The station should come in loud and clear within a five-mile radius of Andover, but reception will vary depending on local terrain. Some persons as far as 15 miles away may get a good signal.

With the rennovation of the studio facilities at both Lahser and Andover, plus the necessary equipment, the station is costing approximately $60,000 to set up, according to June Hamilton, director of vocational education. The state will reimburse part of the equipment cost.

The station marks the fulfillment of plans begun in 1973, when a committee was formed of teachers, administrators and then school board member Larry Howard to study the possibility of starting a radio station to be used for vocational education.

The school board approved plans to open a station last year, but because of an unexpected money crunch, funding for a vocationally-trained teacher was not available until this fall.

In August, station manager Peter Bowers was hired and he quickly began setting up the station for its debut. Bowers received a degree in broadcast and cinematic arts from Central Michigan University in 1975.

He also worked for three radio stations while earning his diploma, serving as disk jockey, assistant sports director, assistant news director and production and sales manager. In the process, he logged more than the 4,000 hours of professional experience required for his vocational certification.

Bowers is no stranger to Bloomfield Hills Schools. He graduated from Andover in 1971. His father is Dr. Charles Bowers, a member of the board of education.

The radio broadcasting program has four objectives: to provide career awareness and exploration; to develop an appreciation of radio as a means of communication and education; to prepare students for the FCC exam for a third class radio-telephone operator’s license with a broadcast endorsement; and to serve as a communciation vehicle for the school district and community.

Students attend classes during the day and after school. Thirty-three Lahser students are enrolled and 28 at Andover. In addition seven students are doing independent studies in radio broadcasting.

Plans call for the station to operate Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., but that depends on how many students can pass the FCC third class exam scheduled in the Andover Media Center on Oct. 13.

Only students with the license and broadcast endorsement can operate the transmitter.

“We need at least 15 to 20 to work the station during the week,”explains Bowers. “It’s a very tough test. There are three parts. The first two are easy. It’s the last one that’s tough.”

Until the new recruits are available, Bowers will rely on several of the independent studies students who have already passed the required exams.

On Nov. 1, the station’s United Press International news wire will be installed and hourly news and sports reports will begin.

Besides writing news and sports copy, students in the program will be operating the broadcast equipment, running disk jockey programs, and writing and producing public service announcements for school organizations, clubs, sports teams, music and dramatic programs throughout the district.

Although the control room is at Andover, Bowers emphasizes that there is only one radio station and both high schools will get equal treatment.

“They do have these rivalries between the schools,” he says. “I’m trying to build teamwork. We’re 50-50 in the football games we’ll broadcast and we’ll make sure we get the same coverage at both schools.

What kind of music will the station play?

“That’s the biggest question we get,” says Bowers. “During the day we’ll keep it down to easy listening. After 3 o’clock, we’ll throw in a little more rock and folk rock.”

“You can’t please everybody,” he says philosophically.

The station is contacting record companies to stock its library with new records, but it needs old LPs too. Anyone interested in contributing their oldies can make arrangements by calling 647-8510 during business hours or simply drop them off at the studio at the south end of Andover under the transmitting tower.