The last several months have certainly been busy ones for the Austin School Board and the next several don’t look any different.

Saturday, August 21, 1999

The last several months have certainly been busy ones for the Austin School Board and the next several don’t look any different.

Often when a board, council, or business tackles a big project, smaller projects get put on hold.

While the Austin School Board did a good job with the superintendent search, and understandably put some decisions on hold, at least one issue deserves immediate attention before it becomes lost in levy and Wescott business.

The Austin School Board needs to act upon the future of KSMQ.

Prior to the superintendent search, the idea had been broached that KSMQ become an independent licensee with a community-based board. Currently KSMQ is part of the Austin School District.

Many months ago we urged the independence of KSMQ, with certain stipulations. We still feel that allowing KSMQ to become an independent licensee with a community-based board is the right thing to do, as long as there are assurances that KSMQ will remain in Austin.

A community-based board will provide KSMQ with the management attention and business expertise it needs. It will also provide KSMQ with timely and immediate feedback, allowing it to operate more efficiently in today’s ever-changing world of business.

For the Austin School District KSMQ is merely a drain on administrative staff and school board members’ time. KSMQ is totally self-sufficient and is not funded in any way by the school district, nor does the school district benefit financially in any way. Frankly it is in the best interest of Austin taxpayers that the administrators and school board members concentrate on the business of educating our children, and not on overseeing a public television station.

It’s time to pull the trigger and get this deal done.