An NBC10 television cameraman looms behind Pottsgrove Assistant Superintendent Shellie Feola, left, and school board member Nancy Landes, before Tuesday's meeting

POTTSTOWN PA – Apparently sensing that raw human emotion – either joy and relief, or sorrow and resentment – would follow whatever redistricting decision was handed down Tuesday night (Feb. 28, 2012) by the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors, a Philadelphia television station was all over the story like white on rice.

NBC affiliate WCAU-TV (NBC10) assigned a cameraman, reporter and broadcast van to spend much of the day and night Tuesday in Lower and West Pottsgrove townships, in preparation for and to cover the board meeting. Its commitment of resources represented a significant expense, and the effort was heavily promoted in its 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

Station reporter Doug Shimell and crew produced a more than 2-minute story ahead of the vote, with a live stand-up that opened the piece. It included interviews with Ringing Rocks Elementary School parent Ranell Cole outside her home, district Superintendent Dr. Bradley Landis, Ringing parent Barb Krock inside her kitchen, grade-level centers’ opposition organizer Rick Rabinowitz at Ringing, and exterior shots of all three elementary buildings.

• Watch the NBC10 6 p.m. filmed story, introduced with a live opening by Shimell, above, or see it at the television station’s website, here.

The station delivered a follow-up story on the result for its late-night viewers, and was anticipated to offer additional reports during its Wednesday morning (Feb. 29) news programming.

Although such regional coverage is rarely welcomed by elected and appointed officials, it may have been a good thing that an NBC10 videographer was inside the Pottsgrove High School auditorium as board President Michael Neiffer tried to get the meeting under way.

The directors’ microphones weren’t working properly; in fact, they were squelching, beeping, echoing and producing high-pitched feedback noise every time someone pressed a button to speak. The cameraman, whose job depends on the quality of both the images and audio he captures, joined with Pottsgrove maintenance workers in an attempt to solve the sound system’s problems. They only partially succeeded.

Related (to Pottsgrove School District redistricting):

• Attention-Getter: Philly TV Crew Spends Its Day In ‘Grove
• Get A Seat Early For Tonight’s Pottsgrove Board Meeting
• Bright Yellow Signs Flag Pottsgrove Centers’ Opposition
• The Case Against Centers in the Pottsgrove School District
• Pottsgrove Ed Centers’ Opponents Launch Petition Drive
• Pottsgrove Principals Distribute Redistrict Info Letters
• Debate Aside, Pottsgrove K-Classes Sign-Up Starts
• Pottsgrove’s Case For Education Centers, Take Two
• Pottsgrove Says It Will Work To Improve Public Notice
• Pottsgrove Centers’ Talks Subdued; Decision Delayed
• Notebook Worthy: Pottsgrove, The Master Of Brevity
• It’s Official: ‘Grove Meeting Moved To High School
• Pottsgrove’s Case For Ed Centers: A Nutshell View
• In ‘Horse Race’ Of Opinions, Pottsgrove Serves As Track
• ‘Grove Residents Want Proof Ed Centers Will Succeed
• ‘The Blues’ May Await Pottsgrove’s School Board Tonight
• Both Sides In Pottsgrove Redistricting Head To Facebook
• Pottsgrove Crowd Vocal In Opposing Educational Centers
• Advocate: Pottsgrove Centers ‘Best Access’ To Resources
• Debate Over Pottsgrove Redistricting Gets Started Tuesday
• No Matter What Plan Pottsgrove Adopts, Buses Ready
• Redistricting Info ‘Slanted,’ Pottsgrove Volunteers Charge
• Pottsgrove Redistrict Discussions Quietly Move Ahead
• In Pottsgrove, Redistricting Study Work Gets Started
• Pottsgrove Sets Dates For Redistrict Committee Work
• As Expected, Interest A’Plenty In Pottsgrove Redistricting
• Landis Calls For Pottsgrove Redistricting Volunteers
• Touchy Pottsgrove Redistricting Now Being Considered

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Feb. 28 meeting):

• Attention-Getter: Philly TV Crew Spends Its Day In ‘Grove
• Get A Seat Early For Tonight’s Pottsgrove Board Meeting