WSTB Coming Back?

UPDATE 10/21/08 2:26 PM: An update, and much more, from those on the WSTB side of this has been published on the WSTB website. There's also more in this editorial on the "Sunday Oldies Jukebox" site...including copies of two of the pictures in question.

So far, there's no published word from school officials that the station is nearing any return soon, in the wake of changes to the situation today detailed in our update immediately below.

As we're going to have to take more time away from the Mighty Blog here in the next couple of weeks, feel free to check the links we've provided. We'll weigh in if there's any significant news regarding the station's return, or any other disposition of the situation...

UPDATE 10/21/08 9:58 AM: The WSTB roller coaster ride continues.

OMW hears that long-time WSTB general manager Bob Long's resignation is back on the table again. We've obtained a copy of a statement he's released, which is reprinted here:

STATEMENT REGARDING MY RESIGNATION

On Monday, October 20, 2008 I submitted my resignation as Station Manager of WSTB-FM.
While progress toward resolving prior issues was occurring at one level, on Monday morning the radio station entrance door lock was changed without my knowledge and without explanation. It is my assumption that this was done to limit staff access outside of the school day in compliance with Jarod’s Law. While it is the school district’s decision on interpretation of Jarod’s Law, it is not possible for me to operate the radio station with such restrictions of access.

I urge the district to find another Station Manager as soon as possible so that WSTB can return to the air quickly.

October 21, 2008

Our original item, where it seemed progress was being made towards returning WSTB to the airwaves as soon as late this week, is below...

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Off-air Streetsboro schools radio station WSTB/88.9 may be returning as soon as "late this week".

That's the word in a brief item posted today to the web site of the "Gateway News", a weekly Record Publishing newspaper which serves the Portage County city. Quoting:

(WSTB general manager Bob) Long said he was prepared to resign Monday morning, but he had some conversations Sunday night and he feels "pretty confident that we're coming to some consensus." He did not say who the conversations were with.

The slightly more positive tone is also being sounded by those posting messages to WSTB's regular website...where those writing said they had planned to make other pictures available to those asking to see all the pictures that were considered in the case, but, quoting:

Copies of ALL of the questioned photos exist, and although we had a plan to release them today we feel that with the potential for progress this week the release is unneccesary.

An article in weekend editions of the "Gateway News" sister paper, the Kent-Ravenna Record Courier, cites some items that may still need to be squared away before WSTB returns to the air, quoting school superintendent Linda Keller:

"The station has been operating (a separate computer network) under a separate server from the school district and that has raised some questions."

And further from the article:

Keller said the district is working to ensure the computers meet "specific network connectivity requirements" of the state's E-Tech program.

(This) week, Keller said the station's computers will be connected to the district via fiber optic lines, providing enhanced security and accountability.

Meanwhile, we do have a button set on the OMW Mobile's Newly Repaired Car Radio for 88.9, and we'll keep listening as the week progresses...