By Keighla Schmidt, Staff Writer 

The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School Board discussed the possibility of converting a classroom to a television studio in conjunction with Burnsville Eagan Community Television (BETC).

Due to high rent, the television studio would like to relocate and one proposed location is the high school. The high school would lose one, and possibly two, classrooms but gain access to up- to-date equipment and instruction from professionals.

Business Manager Mark Stotts presented the proposed agreement after he met with city council officials from both Burnsville and Eagan. While the talks are very preliminary, Stotts said, some possible details have already been sketched out.

The construction cost would be around $225,000 to convert the room which the district would pay for out of capital costs. All the equipment, valued at $225,000, would be donated and the district and the television studio would each own half. Repairs and updates for the equipment would be the responsibility of the BETC. The initial agreement would span three years and the BETC would pay a total of $105,000 in capital costs.

“The classroom space would still be classroom space, just in a little different manner,” Stotts said. “I see this as a win-win for both sides … hopefully the cities of Burnsville and Eagan will see this as a benefit for them as well.”

Stotts said he spoke with former BHS Principal Kay Joyce, well as interim Principal Gerry Ackermann, about the proposal. Both said there was ample room in the high school to afford a classroom or two for this set up.

The Burnsville and Eagan city councils will meet to discuss the agreement this month.