High school radio station marks 40th year

Shawn Novatt, executive producer of WBLI/106.1 FM's "BLI in the Morning" show, used to cut class and head to the basement at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School and the studios of WPOB, its radio station.

Like him, 17-year-old senior Sarah Cantos admits she spends more time than she should in the studios.

On Friday, on-air personalities past and present huddled at the school with about 400 students and guests to mark the 40th anniversary of the station, which has become a draw for generations of students.

"Our district was really groundbreaking, and they did a good thing 40 years ago," said Adam Weinstock, the WPOB faculty director.

WPOB is one of a handful of high school radio stations on Long Island. It shares the 88.5 FM frequency with WKWZ at Syosset High School, with Plainview-Old Bethpage using it in the morning and Syosset in the afternoon. WXBA Brentwood (88.1 FM) and WSHR Sachem (91.9 FM) also have radio stations. Schreiber High School's WDOT in Port Washington broadcasts at 530 on the AM dial. Glen Cove High School's radio station broadcasts over the Internet.

Brad Klein, 27, a 2002 Plainview graduate and communications coordinator for NASCAR, says WPOB helped jump-start his career in communications. "I definitely had a leg up on the competition," he said. "I already knew how to use the radio board and certain communications techniques. It was very key."

Senior Dylan Breger, 17, is the WPOB station manager and was inspired to learn the station has many successful alumni. "It's definitely an example of what you can become from the resources we have here," he said.

Novatt, 34, a 1995 graduate, credits his experiences at WPOB with helping him decide to pursue a career in radio. "It gives the students a sense of ownership," said Novatt. "If you wanted a frequency now, you wouldn't be able to get it. There's no room [on the dial]."

Weinstock, who teaches three courses at Plainview-Old Bethpage involving radio production and broadcasting, says his students have an advantage when they start college. "Who else can say out of college they have eight years experience?"

Cantos, WPOB's assistant station manager, is hopeful but "very nervous" about a career in broadcasting. "They won't take me if I don't have the experience," she said. However, she believes the skills she learns at WPOB will help her down the line. "We learn how to communicate and be comfortable on the air," she said.

Chris Barry, media communications teacher at Glen Cove, said having a high school radio station gives students an advantage by exposing them to potential career choices. "It's something a lot of kids end up pursuing," Barry said.

WPOB, which offers top-40 music and talk, can be heard from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.