AZ state school computer project update

Mon, 01 Apr 2002 00:22:04 -0500

Did anyone else see this in the East Valley Tribune today?  Front page update on that many million dollar contract for software service to all the schools in the state.  Current page is:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/news1.shtml

But I don't think it will be there long and I don't see where the Trib offers access to archives.  I saved off the entire text if anyone wants me to send/post it somewhere.

Bottom line: The pilot program is not going well because of infrastructure problems, un-reliability and the fact that most of the proprietary software that has been licensed is not what the teachers want or does not fit establish cirriculum.  Surprise!  The state was sold a pile of software it cannot or won't use!

Hightlights (quoting the article):
<quotes>
"It does not exhibit characteristics of reliability," said Michael Ruppel, the district’s [Tempe Union High School District] chief information officer. "I wouldn’t say this is a bad deal because it hasn’t had time to evolve, but it’s not ready for prime time."

"Electronic learning could be costly. Schools were told they would receive a basic package of free titles and the option to purchase additional titles from a premium package. But districts have learned that certain titles they thought were free in the basic package will cost extra if they want to continue the software program in higher grades. For example, teachers might receive an academic program for grades one, two and three, but they would have to pay to continue the program for grades four, five and six."

"But many schools have raised objections, saying they won’t use as much as half the software titles in the basic package because they do not fit with what teachers want to teach, they may not align with state standards or they have unwanted components, like plug-ins that can give the manufacturer information about computer use for marketing purposes."

"The early problems shouldn’t come as a surprise, school officials say, because the state never sought their input before designing the network. What’s left is a web of confusion for educators and a massive headache for school technology directors struggling to make the ASP work."

"It was kind of sprung on us," said Ernie Nicely, director of information systems for the Mesa Unified School District. "It just happened. There’s been no evaluation (by school districts). And there’s been no buy-in.""

</quotes>

OK, granted, such a massive networked project would have many infrastructure and shake-out problems to start with no matter what OS or software is used.  However, for the amount of tax-payer money being spent, it is a shame that the bang-for-the-buck is very small.

To top it off, in classic political style, the guy who got this all going has direct ties to one of the main contractors providing the propietary software.  AG's office says no law violations occurred but that it did no look good.

The big news for open source/free software advocates is that it looks like it is still an open field to get things into schools on a grass-roots level and that the program as currently constituted is not fitting the bill.

Alan