MOA, ASD Create Broadcast Partnership, Merge Channels 9 and 14

Assembly meetings, school board meetings and other education and Muni offerings all moving to channel 9 on Feb. 1

Mayor's Corner

1/21/2016

ANCHORAGE - As part of a shared service agreement with the Municipality of Anchorage, the Anchorage School District will begin broadcasting all school board meetings and other relevant educational programs on the Municipality’s cable channel 9.

“Looking at different ways of doing things and sharing services is one way we can provide important information while keeping our finances focused on the classroom,” said Superintendent Ed Graff. “I appreciate the Mayor and Municipality supporting this partnership.”

The merging of the broadcast efforts will eliminate the district’s cable channel 14. The change will occur on February 1. The shared service will result in an annual savings of $25,000 to ASD. There are no cost increases expected for the Municipality.

“Shared services are about finding efficiencies and spending taxpayer dollars wisely. We look forward to building more partnerships that leverage our collective resources,” said Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.

School board meetings will still be streamed live and available on-demand through the district’s website.

With the change, the cable channel will no longer be a source of weather-related closure information. Instead, people can receive closure information in a variety of other ways, such as:

  • Text messages
  • Email
  • Social media (Facebook and Twitter)
  • ASD main phone line

Additionally, local radio and television outlets provide updates to their audiences in their respective areas. To subscribe or learn more about weather-related closures, visit the district’s closure information webpage.

For more information, contact Myer Hutchinson at (907) 343-7133 or Heidi Embley at (907) 742-4153.

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