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WHRO tells Matthews County it delivered large instructional value for modest local investment
Summary
WHRO president Bert Schmidt presented an impact report saying Matthews County Public Schools invested $2,768 in WHRO services in 2024–25 and received direct and indirect benefits valued at $661,000, highlighting resources such as eMediaVA, online courses and outreach vans.
Bert Schmidt, president and CEO of WHRO Public Media, told the Matthews County School Board on Tuesday that regional public media resources provided broad instructional support in 2024–25 and offered a high return on the division’s modest annual investment.Impact and services Schmidt said WHRO and its eMediaVA platform offer nearly 100,000 free instructional resources, digital courses aligned to Virginia standards, education vans for elementary learners, and professional development for teachers. The WHRO report presented to the board showed Matthews County contributed $2,768 in the 24–25 school year and — according to WHRO’s impact statement — received direct and indirect benefits valued at $661,000, which WHRO characterized as a $238 return for every dollar invested.
Board response and next steps Board members thanked WHRO for the report and asked about participation in programs such as the regional spelling bee and the PBS Kids writers contest; WHRO encouraged the division to contact its education team to arrange visits and support for online learning and curriculum integration.
Quotes and context "We hope you're happy with that return on your investment," Schmidt said after reviewing the executive summary. He offered follow‑up support, including customized usage reports for the division and in‑person advisory visits for Learning Management System integration.
What this means for Matthews County WHRO representatives said the division’s usage of online courses and materials is tracked and that WHRO can provide tailored reports on which resources Matthews County teachers and students access. Board members and the superintendent discussed promoting student participation in WHRO events such as the writers contest and the regional competitions that feed into national events.
Follow up WHRO offered to work with the superintendent and the board representative who attends WHRO meetings to identify priority resources and outreach opportunities for Matthews students and teachers.
