Blurbex

From Ann Goldenberg, executive director of the Tampa Educational Cable Consortium, on the Hillsborough County Commission’s vote to not fund the Education Channel:

Dear Friends of The Education Channel,

I am very disheartened to bring you the news that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to zero fund TECC on July 31. Current public perception is that we have been “saved” by the Hillsborough County Government TV offer to produce and air our signature programs: School Board meetings, Math Homework Hotline and the Superintendent’s Forum. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Without the County’s financial contribution this budget cycle, the institution cannot fulfill its production contracts and will, therefore, lose even more of its funding and its ability to generate current and future income.

However, we should not give up!

Why? Because the budget process is not over yet!

There is still time to let the BOCC know how important The Education Channel is and that it should be funded.

The first public Budget meeting is September 5. Come and speak out!

You voice does matter.

TECC is going to hold two workshops to discuss the issue to make sure you feel confident, comfortable and knowledgeable speaking to the BOCC.

Join us on either:

Wed. August 29th at 6 pm The Education Channel 703 N Willow Ave.

Tuesday, Sept. 4th at 6 pm. The Education Channel 703 N Willow Ave.

More importantly, please mark you calendar for September 5 at 6 pm for the public hearing on the budget at County Center 601 E Kennedy Blvd. and join us. Together we can make Hillsborough County a better place to live and learn.

Again, I want to thank you for your help. You emails, calls and letters were very important and very meaningful and I believe will help to save The Education Channel for our community.

Goldenberg goes on to mention that the $519,000 that the county contributes to TECC is an investment that has helped innumerable students of all grade levels:

• Over 25,000 math students have received one-on-one, free tutoring using Math Homework Hotline. * Thousands studied for FCAT and final exams watching FCAT Reviews and Algebra I tutorials.

• Over 100,000 college students have taken over 50 different courses for credit via The Education Channel.

• Over 1,000 student and independent filmmakers found an audience through the annual Independents’ Film Festival.

• Over 100,000 children have discovered reading with the Summer Reading Club, Book Talk and Scholastic Classics.

• TECC viewership is consistently the highest among all local channels. Over 44% of cable subscribers are regular viewers.

• TECC has won the highest national award – Overall Excellence in Educational Programming – the last four years in a row and 8 times in the past 11 years, including in 2007!

Read past CL blog posts on the issue here and here.

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