Public TV foundation, commission come to agreement over structuring

CONWAY — In less than a minute and without discussion Tuesday, the Arkansas Educational Television Network Commission ended nearly a year of contention by finalizing a compromise between the network and its fundraising arm.

In a release emailed quickly after the end of the teleconference, Commission Chairman Skip Holland said the agreement — negotiated back and forth for months between the two entities — preserves the “longstanding relationship with AETN Foundation built on clarity of mission and vision.

“We have redefined our operational structure to bolster revenue opportunities and foster digital growth, in turn enhancing AETN’s relevance in an ever-changing media landscape,” Holland said in the release. “We are excited about the possibilities this renewed relationship will provide for our viewers, members and all Arkansans. We look forward to a bright future for public media in Arkansas with the continued support of the Foundation and its members.”

The agreement restores the position of the AETN executive director — now held by

Courtney Pledger — and an AETN Commission representative to the AETN Foundation Board with full voting rights. The agreement also places those two on the executive committee of the foundation board. Other executive committee members will be the foundation’s board chairman, vice chairman, secretary and treasurer.

According to the release from AETN, the new structure will also provide for no fewer than eight and no more than 15 foundation board members. The board and AETN Commission will be invited to nominate candidates for five new positions, and the board executive committee will narrow the candidates to a slate of up to five proposed new members for the board’s consideration and approval.

“The AETN Foundation is proud of our nearly 35-year history supporting the programming on AETN that Arkansans love and trust,” AETN Foundation Board Chairman Lynne Rich said in a release. “We anticipate even greater benefits for our members as we work with the commission, donors and viewers to provide Arkansans engagement opportunities throughout the state.”

The head of AETN typically also acts as the chief executive officer of the foundation, but in February, the foundation board removed Pledger — who was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in 2017 — from the foundation after she fired Mona Dixon, the foundation’s director.

Dixon told Rich in a letter she was fired because she refused to follow Pledger’s direction that would violate state procurement laws.

The commission has since been in negotiation with the AETN Foundation to development an agreement dictating the relationship between the two entities.

Tuesday’s resolution allows Pledger to present a list of candidates for the foundation’s chief executive officer position to the foundation’s executive committee. That board will decide whom to hire.

“Any action to terminate the AETN Foundation CEO will be taken with approval of the AETN Foundation Board. The AETN Foundation CEO will hire, supervise and terminate foundation staff and run daily operations,” the resolution states.

The AETN Foundation Board will change its registered agent to the AETN Foundation chief executive officer on records of the Arkansas secretary of state.