Central Campus radio station thrives on variety

The programs on radio station KDPS are as diverse as the Central Campus students who serve as the station’s hosts.

Hip-hop, video game music, a Roosevelt sports talk show.

The 5,200-watt station, which can be found at 88.1 FM and heard within a 25-mile radius of the downtown Des Moines school, was created in the 1950s to give Des Moines students vocational training in the radio business. Today, it’s part of Central Campus’ broadcasting and film program.

Instructor Kirk Johnson describes the station as “one of the last frontiers for authentic audience engagement” in Des Moines radio.

“Some people might listen and have no idea the station is run by high schoolers, which is just fine,” Johnson said. “It’s a part of the community.”

The variety of programs are a compilation of what students decide they want to bring to the airwaves, he said. There are currently 40 students who serve as on-air talent.

Tyrell Jones, a sophomore at Roosevelt, has his own radio hour. Known on the air as DJ T-Rizzelle, he puts together “The Medicine” show on alternating Monday afternoons. Jones is interested in being a theater arts teacher, and he hopes the course will add to his drama and speech goals.

Albert Rassavong, a junior at North High School, said he is actually a really shy person, but a love of music drew him to the Central Campus radio program.

“This radio course is really fun,” Rassavong said. “I’ve learned how to become a DJ as well as make radio shows.”

And it’s paid off.

Rassavong and Jones were hired to DJ the North High School winter formal and a Callanan Middle School dance.

Many students from the radio course are approached by Des Moines Public Schools to emcee or DJ school events. They can also earn up to 18 college credits. The course partners with the radio program at Iowa Central College in Fort Dodge, KICB, that coincidentally has the same radio frequency of 88.1 FM.

Johnson said many of his students will pursue careers in radio and related fields such as journalism, digital media and production.

Just like other stations broadcasting in Des Moines, KDPS is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. No profanity or indecent content is allowed on the air and a confirmed formal complaint could lead to a minimum fine of $3,000.

“The school district trusts us and I trust (the students),” Johnson said. “This is different from the Internet where anything can be posted and there are no rules. We have to be very respectful.”

Class field trips include treks to the Art Institutes in Minneapolis, the broadcasting booth at the Iowa Wild, iHeartRadio and the Des Moines Radio Group.

Students send CDs of their radio shows to the John Drury High School Radio Awards in Chicago to get outside feedback, something that can be hard to get without a live audience.

“Sometimes you can sit (in front of the control panel) and feel utterly alone,” Johnson said. “There is no immediate feedback. You are just expected to do well. Sometimes you might run into someone much later who said they heard the show so you don’t always know how you are connecting to the audience.”

About this series

The Des Moines Register is taking a look at some of the unique courses — from auto body repair to robotics — offered at Des Moines Central Campus. The school draws 1,500 students from 29 central Iowa school districts who take classes in 30 career and technical areas and 35 advanced courses not available at most traditional high schools.