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Board approves KALW grant-funded contracts after debate over automation and contracting
Summary
After extended public testimony from KALW staff and union representatives, the board approved a set of KALW contractor agreements while members pressed staff on station employment structure, pandemic-era automation, and whether work could be transitioned to SFUSD employees.
The board considered several KALW-related contract resolutions (K-items) that fund journalism training programs, grant-supported reporting projects and public-media partnerships. KALW representatives and union leaders spoke repeatedly during public comment. Union members expressed concern that increasing use of contractors and pandemic automation threaten live, local programming and the positions of announcer/operators. “Automation replacing our union workers one by one is not healthy,” said Joanne Marr, a long-time KALW employee and SEIU member.
KALW managers and journalists responded that the station is self-funded — it raises the grants and membership revenue that pay for the programs under consideration — and that contractors perform grant-funded reporting and training work that differs from the announcer/operator positions covered by SEIU. General Manager Tina Pamantuan said automation occurred as a temporary safety measure during the pandemic and that station leadership has worked to protect paychecks and maintain on-air staff where possible.
Several commissioners probed staffing numbers and the distinction between SFUSD-funded employees and outside contractors. Staff clarified that KALW holds the FCC license (historically owned by SFUSD) but operates largely on independent fundraising; the station employs a small number of SFUSD positions (general manager, program manager, and several announcer/operator FTEs) and contracts with journalists and trainers for grant-funded projects.
After extended questioning and public testimony, the board moved and approved the KALW resolutions in roll-call votes. Commissioners criticized the process for insufficient advance transparency and sought clearer documentation on who is an SFUSD employee, which functions are contracted, and whether work can be repatriated to SFUSD employees where appropriate.
