Regional Educational Television Network Inc

“RETN has no committees with authority to act on behalf of the governing body”

“Reviewed by the Executive Director, provided to Board of Directors after filing”

“Documented by Board of Directors”

“Available at the RETN offices upon request”

“Program Service Expenses 92,709, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 Outreach and Website See Schedule O”

“Production and Collaboration - RETN cablecasts Channel 16 on three cable systems that included Comcast in Williston, Comcast in Shelburne and Burlington Telecom in Burlington. In 2017 Production and Collaboration - RETN launched a high definition cable channel BTVHD 216 on the Burlington Telecom system. BTVHD programming is focused on local arts, culture and music. In 2018, RETN aired 168 hours of programming per week on each of the four channels and produced more than 225 local programs with 5 full-time, 1 regular part-time staff member, 10 as need part-time employees, 3 interns and volunteers, 20 community organizational partners, 2 colleges, 1 university, and 36 k-12 schools in 5 school districts. Among these programs, RETN worked with a variety of community members - educational, non-profit and commercial businesses - to produce programs including information sessions in schools and public libraries, concerts by the Vermont Youth Orchestra, presentations from the Center on Research on Vermont, the Female Founders Lecture Series, a live NASA International Space Station uplink with the Charlotte Central School, the Special Olympics Penguin Plunge, the State Board of Education monthly meeting with the Vermont Agency of Education, and local school board meetings. Continuing collaboration with schools in Chittenden and Addison Counties including commencement ceremonies from all local high schools, events from Shelburne Community School and Williston Central School, informational videos about school bond votes and showcases of student work from a number of middle schools, high schools and colleges. These programs are provided on Channel 16 and BTVHD 216 and as video-on-demand for the public at the RETN website”

“Community Education - RETN continues to expand educational programs providing students, teachers and other community members training in the skills of video production, storytelling, audio production and distribution of content. In 2018 RETN continued to offer a New Video Makers workshop series as well as workshops in basic camera operation, advanced camera skills, iPad video, green screen and editing. In 2018 RETN began to explore virtual reality educational curriculum and plans to add new courses in 2019. In 2018, staff also collaborated with VCAM, the public access television channel, to create a combined media education course catalog. RETNs education efforts, workshops and courses have increased participation by teachers, students and community members producing programs for cablecast and distribution by RETN.”

“Educational Access Programming - RETN is a community media organization operating the educational access and arts channels on four cable television systems in northwestern Vermont. RETN provides the opportunity for schools, other education organizations and community scholars to acquire, produce and cablecast educational programs, arts and cultural events, learning events and educational policy coverage for the public via the cable systems on Channels 16 and 216. RETN operates and maintains video production, post-production, cablecast, and web-based facilities designated for use by community producers representing the schools and the broader educational community. RETN also provides teacher, student and community training and presentations pertaining to the educational use of telecommunications, video and other technologies.”

“Outreach and Website RETN reaches out to schools and nonprofits with an educational mission to partner on creating content, events and activities for the local community of lifelong learners. This outreach includes sponsorship of events, media stories, open houses, social media, newsletters, public presentations and a significant website. Ongoing web site development has expanded all content sharing and contribution capacity within the community and integrated the internal workflow of the organization with the public presence online. RETNs web site at retn.org is a comprehensive collection and dynamic array of content supporting the mission of RETN and responsive to the needs of the education community. It includes TV schedules, workshop and course registration, and an integration of content from RETN partners and notable educational initiatives both local and national. Partially to support outreach efforts and increase public participation in community media, RETN collaborated with VCAM to launch a low power FM radio station in 2017. 99.3 WBTV-LP went on the air in Burlington in 2017. 99.3 WBTV-LP went on the air in Burlington in the fall after several years of planning with community members. Currently more than 40 local radio programs are broadcast on WBTV-LP.”