DES MOINES, Iowa — KDPS 88.1 FM radio has been on the air for more than 60 years with Des Moines Public Schools, but this week, it comes to an end as we currently know it.

DMPS has begun the sale process for the student-run radio station at the Central Campus.

Thursday is the last day for DMPS, which also means 88.1 FM will go dark at 3 p.m. on June 5.

The decision to sell the station is a mix of shifting curriculum focus to more new media, like podcasting and streaming, plus the cost and upkeep. Timing is also a factor. The beloved broadcasting teacher at Central Campus, Kirk Johnson, is retiring.

“I think certainly his retirement brought this issue to the forefront. But it was also coincidental that it comes at a time that the district is stepping back, going through a large-scale effort to look at its programing and its facilities,” DMPS Chief Information Officer Neil Schroeder said. “This fits into that vein that we want to align with the future of our students needs and really make sure we’re having the biggest impact going forward.”

“It’s kind of a trend when someone in the educational frequency arena retires, so does the radio station,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of FCC guidelines to comply with and follow. I think that it’s certainly for a different generation.”

Johnson has been with DMPS for 33 years, so he knows the old and the new.

“We’ve had a dual signal going out on the web and the airwaves since 2010. So, our listeners have definitely had time to experience our content on multiple platforms,” he added. “I’m so grateful, too, that we’re continuing everything we’re doing. We’re just losing that one modality where people can tune us in on their radio. And it’s very hard to find a teenager that owns a radio. So, I don’t apologize for taking that out of their wheelhouse. They probably don’t need a radio. They’re using their digital tools. And for the people that are nostalgic about it, I appreciate all the years that they’ve given to radio too, because that’s kind of what got me hooked too. I thought it was magical.”

DMPS has been working with a national broker and listed the station in early March. The frequency is in a non-commercial broadcast space, so it limits the pool. But they had many interested and believe they have found a winner to sell it to. They’re in negotiations and they hope to have an announcement soon.

“While a lot of viewers and our DMPS alums may still listen to the radio, we have a great nostalgia for it. That’s just simply not the case for our students today. Media is being disrupted with things like streaming, podcasting, There’s also an element of people. When you look into running an FCC certified radio station, it goes a little bit beyond other duties as assigned. And then there’s costs. Having a large tower transmitter, traditional broadcast equipment and all the other things that go into running a radio station,” Schroeder said.

While 88.1 will wrap things up Thursday, the students will be back to creating content for streaming and online in August when school is back in session.

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