GWBCCC, district in media center operations talks

The West Bloomfield School District and the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Communications Commission (GWBCCC) are currently negotiating a possible partnership in which the commission will take over the operations of the school district’s media center.

The proposed partnership was approved by the West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees at its Monday, July 18 meeting.

Under the agreement, the commission would be granted use of the media center, its broadcast and video equipment, and would assume all building operating costs.

The district would still own the media center, which houses the school district’s cable channel WBTV, but would assume no costs for the center’s operations.

“We’re in the middle of negotiations. Both parties are in complete good faith, but there’s still a lot of details to be worked out,” said Dave Albery, GWBCCC’s executive director. “We hope to have a deal done by the school district’s next board meeting (Aug. 29).”

Under the proposal, the commission would move its equipment and operations, including its cable channel Civic Center TV, from the second floor of West Bloomfield Township Hall to the media center, which is located on Walnut Lake Road near Green Elementary School.

The commission would then operate Civic Center TV as well as WBTV from the media center.

The commission would also be allowed to renovate the interior portions of the building with the district’s permission.

The district would still be responsible for land maintenance and normal heating and air conditioning service, as well as annual roofing maintenance and repairs.

The partnership would be finalized pending a lease agreement that would have to be signed by the district and officials from the communities represented by the cable commission, including West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake.