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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #2157 |
| WPPB-TV BECON FUNDING |
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| Requester: |
Dr. Frank Till |
Organization: |
Broward County Schools/BECON |
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| Project Title: |
WPPB-TV BECON FUNDING |
Date Submitted |
1/13/2006 10:26:06 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Atwater |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The Broward Education Communications Network (BECON) is the instructional and broadcast television station licensed to the school board of Broward County, FL. BECON's mission is to use broadcast television and the most current technologies to develop and deliver quality multi-media instructional, educational and community programming to enhance student achievement and life-long learning. Since 1966, BECON has produced high quality educational television programming to prepare students to excel academically and improve student achievement. BECON broadcasts these instructional programs on closed circuit ITFS directly into the classrooms of over 260 schools in Broward County. In 2000, with the purchase of a UHF community broadcast station, BECON-TV/WPPB began broadcasting into the homes of 1.3 million potential viewers throughout Broward County. As the only non-PBS independent, educational television station in South Florida, BECON-TV/WPPB has a unique opportunity to provide fresh, localized programming, responsive to community needs, which is otherwise not available to our viewers.
BECON-TV/WPPB is licensed by the FCC to provide non-commercial, educational programming, which is the same as licenses owned by all PBS stations. Support for educational programming is readily available on a national level for PBS stations but is not accessible to a non-PBS, independent educational station such as BECON-TV/WPPB. Therefore, a large majority of programming must be produced in the BECON studios. BECON-TV strives to reflect the educational, cultural and economic development interests of the people in the community by producing programming such as The New Haitian Generation, Community Forum with Dr. Till, Celebrate South Florida and Countyline with Frank Loconto. One of the critical issues facing Broward County and the State of Florida today is a shortage of skilled workers in certain professions such as teaching, nursing, construction trades, bio-medical, marine industry and many others, which significantly impacts the region's ability to attract new business to the area. BECON, in collaboration with organizations such as WorkForce One, plans to expand its community programming to address economic development and workforce issues with programs addressing these interests. Other community affairs, continuing education and cultural programming will be developed as well to meet the unique multicultural needs of our community. The School Board of Broward County, the 6th largest school district in the nation, has more than 272,000 students from 168 countries representing 55 different language groups. BECON-TV/WPPB reaches out to the entire community including these students and their families in their homes. |
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| Recipient: |
BECON |
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Contact: |
Maggie Zalamea |
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6600 SW Nova Drive |
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Contact Phone: |
(754) 321-2190 |
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Fort Lauderdale 33317 |
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Contact email: |
margarita.zalamea@browardschools.com |
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| Counties: |
Broward |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| BECON plans to produce community broadcast programming to address three focus areas including: Career development, multi-cultural and lifelong learning. Career development programming will address South Florida's economic and workforce development concerns which could include the creation of a monthly program highlighting career areas with, or in danger of, shortages. Research conducted in Florida by the Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement and the Agency for Workforce Innovation is the main resource to identifying the career areas that could be addressed. The initial focus would be on Region 22 (Broward County) but expand to highlight career areas in need statewide (most occupations facing shortages are common statewide so Broward programs would still address a statewide interest). Working in partnership with WorkforceOne, program outlines, which include real-life, on-location experiences, would be developed in collaboration with local business leaders, industry associations and educational institutions.
A program of this nature would appeal to all age groups from high school seniors to the displaced worker as we highlight all ages working in each field (entry level to senior management). Many of those in the job market looking to start a new career or make a change worry that their lack of experience will eliminate them from the competition. The Florida 2005 Job Vacancy/Hiring Needs Survey conducted by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation showed that one-third of the vacancies discovered in the region did not require work experience. However, two-thirds did have some type of educational or training requirement. This program would review the necessary skills needed for each occupation and also outline the training that is needed. Special segments highlighting local educational institutions (public and private) that provide training in each occupational career profiled could be included.
From a multi-cultural perspective, BECON is looking at programming that would look "behind the scenes" at how people in South Florida are successfully living and working across cultural lines, emphasizing the strength of our multi-cultural community. How does business and industry grow and thrive in South Florida with a labor pool of employees from 168 different countries? Current programs airing on BECON-TV/WPPB such as The New Haitian Generation and Community Forum with Dr. Till also address those interests unique to the South Florida region. Other programming will enhance lifelong learning opportunities with instructional and self-help programs from financial planning to staying healthy.
Funding from the state, and matching dollars from local partners, would allow BECON to develop these and other new programs that could be broadcast statewide through the Florida Channel.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| This funding from the State will allow BECON to produce four complete program series addressing the issues mentioned above. BECON will work with community partners, such as WorkForce One to measure the impact of the program on clients seeking career advice and placement assistance from the agency. Our local employers have indicated a lack of knowledge among the available labor pool of the breadth of opportunities available in the major industries in Broward County like the Marine and Construction industries. We will work with these professional associations to develop program content and anecdotally track the impact of the program on new applicants. We will work closely with the Florida Theatric Association and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, to measure the impact on learning of combined broadcast and distance learning cultural programs. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$750,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$920,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$170,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$500,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations, Additional program development and Distribution |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Broward County Delegation |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
01/18/2006 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
