CPB Requirements

CPB Reporting Requirements
In compliance with requirements set forth by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, WAPS makes the following types of records available for public inspection (located below):

• Annual financial reports filed with CPB (below)
• Audited statements or other financial statements filed with CPB. These include the reports from CPB-required audits conducted by independent certified public accountants or state-certified independent public accountants, according to the CPB adopted audit standards, and the financial statements that CPB may permit to be submitted instead of such audit reports under certain circumstances; and
• Other information regarding finances submitted to CPB related to any funding agreement with CPB that requires a financial report.

The public is welcome to review our records, detailed below.

Station Executive Management
The names below link directly to an email form for communication.

• Thomas Bruno, General Manager
  330-761-3095
• Andrew James, Operations Manager
  330-761-3182
• Brad Savage, Program Director
  330-761-3099
• Michelle Charles, Membership Director
  330-761-3096
• Laura Smiley, Director of Corporate Sponsorship
  330-761-3099

Annual Financial Disclosures
Audited Financial Statements of the governmental activities of WAPS 91.3FM (a public telecommunications entity operated by Akron Public Schools), but financially independent of the school district, as of and for the fiscal year (FY-22) June 30, 2021, and related notes to the financial statements which collectively comprise.

Audited Financial Report for FY 2023 (WAPS)

Audited Financial Statement for FY 2023 (WAPS)

Local Content and Services Report
See WAPS’ Local Content and Services Report is located here. 

Community Representation Statement
Akron Public Schools (“APS”) The Board of Education in Akron Public Schools is committed to preparing each child for success. We believe that every student, parent/guardian, and staff member bring their backgrounds and experiences into our schools, making us more prosperous. Each of them has a legitimate expectation of having a barrier-free learning environment counteracting the contemporary and historical impact of bias, prejudice, and discrimination, which for generations has produced predictability of learning outcomes based on race, ethnicity, class, socioeconomics, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, diverse language fluency, religion, and cognitive/physical ability.

The Board believes that the responsibility for student success is broadly shared by district staff, families, our community and our students’ own efforts. It is the obligation of the district to embrace the diversity within our district while actively eliminating practices that perpetuate the disparities among our students so that all students can benefit equally.

Akron Public Schools (“APS”) provides Equal Educational Opportunities and Equal Employment Opportunities and does not discriminate in any programs or activities based on sex; race; creed; color; religion; ancestry; national origin; age; economic status; sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; physical appearance; a disability; veteran or military status; or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.

Akron Public Schools (“APS”) has adopted a non-discriminate policy. Click here to view Akron Public Schools’ non-discrimination and affirmative action policy.

The WAPS Affirmation of Inclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusions are essential to the WAPS mission as we seek to represent diversity in our paid, volunteer, student staff; our community service; and on-air programming.

In our community service, we strive for programming that affirms people of all identities: ethnic, racial, cultural, spiritual, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, and age.

WAPS has an ongoing historical commitment to sharing and celebrating the music that affirms the value and dignity of all people, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Above all, we believe the music we champion can and should be a source of joy, bridging divides and bringing people together in celebration of life and love in all its diversity.

WAPS had an annual review on October 20, 2022 to identify our diversity, equity and inclusion needs. WAPS works to align our diversity goals with our Licensee holder Akron Public Schools. WAPS finds the elements of diversity important to its public media work through our diverse programming that affirms people of all identities: ethnic, racial, cultural, spiritual, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, and age. WAPS has 8 full-time professional staff and 6 contracted. 43% are women and 14% are people of color. The governance board is 75% people of color and 43% women. In the past two to three years, WAPS has hired one woman and one person of color, increasing our diversity. In the upcoming year, WAPS plans to hire a Community Engagement and DEI Coordinator in order to further pursue our diversity efforts within the community we serve.

Board of Directors

• The Akron Public School Board of Education serves as the WAPS Governing Body.
• Diana Autry
• Derrick Hall
• Carla Jackson
• Valerie McKitrick
• Job Perry
• Bruce Alexander

WAPS is not required to have a Community Advisory Board as a station owned by a public agency.

• Open Meetings
  WAPS is licensed to the Akron Public School Board of Education. View the calendar of their meetings here.
• Closed Meetings
  On the calendar of meetings for Akron Schools, any meeting shown as “Executive Session” is a closed-door meeting as defined by the Open Meetings Act.  Whenever a meeting is closed to the public, the information regarding that meeting – including the date and reason for the closure – will be listed here.

Statement of Section 396(k)(12) Compliance
WAPS does not sell, rent, lease, loan, trade, give, donate, transfer or exchange their membership or donor names to, with or from any candidate for Federal, State or local office, political committees, or political parties for any purpose whatsoever, except as otherwise required by law or judicial process.

Section 396(k)(12) of the Communications Act provides that:
“(12) Funds may not be distributed under this subsection to any public broadcasting entity that directly or indirectly-
“(A) rents contributor or donor names (or other personally identifiable information) to or from, or exchanges such names or information with, any Federal, State, or local candidate, political party, or political committee; or
“(B) discloses contributor or donor names, or other personally identifiable information, to any non-affiliated third party unless-
“(i) such entity clearly and conspicuously discloses to the contributor or donor that such information may be disclosed to such third party;
“(ii) the contributor or donor is given the opportunity before the time that such information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be disclosed to such third party; and
“(iii) the contributor or donor is given an explanation of how the contributor or donor may exercise that nondisclosure option.”