The district began removing furniture and equipment from the studio
earlier this summer. (photo courtesy of a KBEV student)

The Beverly Hills Unified School District Board of Education on Aug. 26 unanimously approved a $190,000 contract with Integrated Demolition and Remediation, Inc. for the partial demolition and hazardous abatement of the KBEV studio on the Beverly Hills High School campus. KBEV, the school’s broadcast journalism program, was founded in 1969.

According to the district, hazardous materials containing lead and asbestos were found within the ceiling and walls of the studio. The demolition will include the removal of the dropped ceilings, doors, non-load-bearing walls, windows and existing partitions. Studio features such as rigging systems, theatrical lighting systems and all structural steel elements will remain in place.

The construction will begin immediately and is expected to  complete within three weeks. Following completion of the demolition, a plan for the updated design of the studio will appear before the board for discussion.

BHUSD Board members praised the project at the meeting on Aug. 26.

“At some point last year, our community was thinking that we are moving away from the Career Technical Education programming, and I think it’s great that we just keep showing them that we are reinvesting and reinvesting into these experiences and programs,” Board Vice President Judith Manouchehri said.

“From the equipment, which is completely outdated, the style and layout which is completely outdated, we have not been giving our kids the abilities to learn the latest and greatest techniques in film and television,” Board Member Russell Stuart said. “It’s been neglected.”

Although the district approved the demolition on Aug. 26, KBEV students and parents had previously raised concerns over the renovation, which appeared to begin earlier this summer. In July, students photographed items including furniture and equipment being removed from the studio before a renovation had been announced. Journalism students and parents were distraught over the retirement of Romeo Carey, the longtime director of KBEV who left the district earlier this year.

While KBEV previously provided live broadcasts of board meetings, in which students would operate cameras and recording equipment, gaining real-life broadcast experience, the board eliminated KBEV’s role in the public meetings upon Carey’s retirement. Live recordings of the meetings are now overseen by a district employee.

Additionally, on Aug. 5, the BHUSD Board of Education approved a policy that expands district oversight of district-affiliated social media pages, including KBEV. The resolution prohibits “personal opinions or commentary.”

Several alumni who were KBEV students in high school are worried about the future of the program.

“Without giving students the freedom and the rights to create the content, you’re sending a message that their speech, that their thoughts, that their ideas are no longer allowed to be broadcast,” class of 2010 graduate Nikkie Sedaghat said.