Advisory Board Minutes - March 2016

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Rachel Lattimore

Published March 10, 2016 at 4:54 PM CST

NPR Illinois Advisory Board Meeting
March 10, 2016

Attendees:

Phone:

3 PM Call to order
Welcome - Randy Eccles
Roll call

Budget Impasse - No appropriation at the time of the meeting, with no clear plan.

NPR Illinois could see zero funding (with any higher education funding going to core programs).
Audience Survey indicated 6-8 items most likely to be cut (all these cuts could realize up to $100,000 in savings):
- RIS (Reader Information Service)
- Car Talk
- Prairie Home Companion
- APM (American Public Media programs)
- BBC
- HD Broadcast
- Classical stream
NPR Illinois will move forward with key initiatives.
Art Council grant (prior $17,000) was not renewed (the station continues to run the funding credits from the previous grant cycle).

Regional Journalism Collaborative (RJC) Update

CPB funding program for the RJC – Urbana is the lead station.
Participating stations: Urbana, Springfield, Macomb, Carbondale (may change due to the budget impasse).
McCormick Foundation was approached in February to help fund the CPB grant with resources to hire one full time person for engagement, and one graduate student to assist.
Engagement activities include two approaches:
- Follow high school graduates as they vote for the first time.
- Civic education provided to middle school students.
Illinois Issues is being considered as a platform for the collaborative (no final decision yet).

Local Content - New and Expanded Programs

Adding a new program: The 21^st (produced at WILL/Illinois Public Media) – will be a weekly program.
Expanding Illinois Edition and will have ready for state-wide distribution. WILL/Illinois Public Media will begin running the program beginning May 2nd.

Education Desk Engagement Activity

Moderated event was held in Suggs Studio on March 2, 2016.
Invited and included a variety of education leadership.
Top Issues for the state:
- Funding higher education.
- Funding formula & equity (how funding impacts communities).
Sean Crawford moderated the event.

University of Illinois Strategic Plan Discussion

UIS Center for State Policy & Leadership Annual Report

Review.
Concern over the budget and there is no one single solution.
Discussion of a letter of support from the board. It was suggested a joint statement of support for the entire board would be helpful. Bethany will draft a letter.
Letter will be reviewed by all and sent to the Chancellor to show our value and the impact we make (financial, reach, regional-central IL, donors, students, community and state leaders).

Round Table Discussion and Story Ideas

Higher education reform – Il does not have the power for reform (like New York and their in-tact state-wide system).
What is happening to private schools in Illinois (Monmouth, Knox College, and others)?
Tier pension system for teachers (6 years into tier 2), looks like a horrible system for teachers.
Role of education with K-12 charter schools.
Role of community colleges for the most vulnerable students.
Survey for bi-centennial activities in Illinois, what has been done to develop these possibilities. Has a bi-centennial group been appointed and what is happening?
How does a brokered convention work & the impact of the Electoral College. What is a super delegate? What is the delegate proportions in Illinois? How to understand the rules? Vermont Public Radio did a nice piece on caucuses, might look to that for ideas.
Redistricting – what are the totals and what does the map look like.
How is state tourism being impacted by the budget impasse (Governor’s conference on tourism is coming up).
Impact on social service agencies and the long-term impact on those seeking services in Illinois.
How is the budget affecting hospitals in Illinois and what is the long-term impact.

Next Meeting