Board signals support for new Bay Shore Middle School broadcast journalism elective

District staff proposed a new elective in broadcast journalism for motivated eighth graders at Bay Shore Middle School, describing a hands-on course that combines writing, media production and on-air presentation skills and aligns with New York State Next Generation Learning Standards for English language arts.

The presenter said the class would be taught within the existing staffing and budget, at no additional cost to the district, and would build on an after-school broadcast club launched last year. The presentation included a short clip produced by the after‑school club demonstrating students’ on-air and production skills. The presenter said students would learn writing for media, interviewing and video production and would collaborate to create a weekly news broadcast.

Board members and other attendees spoke positively about student engagement and the program’s extension from elementary and after-school offerings into the middle school. The district advisor for the club, Mrs. Lessing, was named as the after‑school advisor; Dr. Lawrence attended in support. Following discussion, board members indicated verbal support and there was a clear affirmative response from the board to move the course forward for the 2025–26 school year.

Why it matters: the proposed elective aims to provide middle school students with communication, media-production and journalism skills during the school day and to expand a program the district already offers after school.

Next steps: presenters said they will move the proposal through the district’s curriculum approval channels for addition to the 2025–26 course offerings.