KSPS, district should part ways

Good news greeted taxpayers and viewers of public television when the board of Spokane Public Schools (SPS) agreed to “begin negotiations to separate the public television station from the school district.”

As president of the KSPS Board of Friends of Seven (FO7) in 2003, I chaired a committee examining “the organizational relationship between the Boards of FO7 and SPS.” We concluded the SPS board had too much on its plate to effectively manage the station and that the FO7 board was better equipped to oversee a public television station. But that SPS board had no interest in relinquishing the federal license, which was to KSPS’ detriment.

Still, KSPS produced quality programming, due to the skill and commitment of the station’s FO7 and SPS employees, led by Patty Starky, Claude Kistler and William Stanley.

I hope the two boards and new superintendent can reach an agreement recognizing most of the station’s equipment and much of the cost of the building were funded by FO7 donors. SPS should transfer its license and other interests in the station for a small charge and in return obtain from FO7 a promise to keep on staff the current employees and to fully fund their retirements.

Eric Johnson, MD

Past President, Board of Friends of Seven

Spokane