1975 – Budget Deficit of Over $10 Million

1975:

---

“…I arrived in American Samoa shortly after a DOI task force found the Territorial government with a current budget deficit of over $10 million and faced with serious cash-flow problems. This condition resulted from a disastrous shortfall in FY 1975 local revenues, primarily in the area of corporate income tax payments from the two local tuna canneries Star-Kist and Van Camp. In addition, there was insufficient electrical power to serve the needs of the island and a chronic water shortage.” (Gov Earl Ruth, 1975: intro)

…The Instruction Television Division produced teachers’ guides for 40 courses, students’ instructional material for 36 courses, and video tapes for 40 courses. ITV staff members also conducted courses and workshops for teaching science, English as a second language, elementary math, art and music. About 60 per cent of all instructional television programming in American Samoa is devoted to English language teaching, while another 10 per cent offers English enrichment activities.

Although it has been a controversial topic, in general, response to the use of television in instruction has been favorable. In the 1974 attitude survey, 88 per cent of both teachers and students indicated a desire for at least some television instruction in math, social studies and language arts. Eighty – eight per cent of all elementary teachers and 95 per cent of all elementary administrators supported the use of television in teaching English as a second language; 96 per cent of the students surveyed reacted favorable to the televised oral English telecasts.

TELEVISION KVZK [now presented as its own entity]

…Television KVZK, which produced a greater number and variety of local programs during the year, also began a new era in public television through a program cooperative established by the Public Broadcasting Service stations. The cooperative provides a stronger national program service by allowing each station the freedom to purchase its own national programming based on local needs and financial resources.

The first studio with new facilities to provide live color capability was completed at the end of the fiscal year. Complete Samoan technical operation was established with upgraded master control room supervisors. Contract engineers provide maintenance and technical support.

Scholarships were provided by the Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to support one Full-time student in Hawaii and two part time students in California to study broad casting arts and sciences. Three local employees received on the job experience at Station WLUK-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and two received training at KABC-TV, Hollywood, California. (IBID; p 18).