Miami-Dade school district settles legal battle with WLRN management
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Miami-Dade's school district resolved its monthslong legal battle with the management company that oversees WLRN.
Why it matters: The agreement, approved by the School Board on Wednesday, ensures that WLRN can broadcast for another seven years, with a possible three-year extension.
- It also replaces the leadership of South Florida Public Media Group, which oversees the station, ousting former CEO John LaBonia and naming longtime WLRN journalist Tom Hudson as interim CEO.
Between the lines: The school district holds WLRN's broadcast license, which was set to expire in June 2027.
Zoom in: The agreement allows SFPMG to acquire West Palm Beach radio station "The Flame" 104.7, despite initially opposing the move.
- The license of that station and its assets will then be transferred to the district.
Catch up quick: After SFPMG announced the acquisition plans in June, the school district sued, alleging the purchase would draw from funds that were required to be spent to benefit Miami-Dade. (The station disputed this.)
- Then-SFPMG chair Richard Rampell fired back, referring to a district official as "small-minded" and a school board member as "a two-faced shamelessly ambitious politician."
- In February, most of WLRN's employees signed a letter to the board that detailed their lack of trust in senior leadership and argued Rampell's behavior threatened the station's future.
- In April, Rampell claimed the district was attempting "a hostile takeover" after it proposed an agreement that would grant it more control over the station, including a role in naming a CEO and giving the district a second seat on SGPMG's seven-member board.
- A week later, Rampell resigned.
The bottom line: While SFPMG will "manage, operate and fundraise" for the stations, per the agreement signed this week, the school board will have "ultimate supervision and control."