Two community organizations have asked the Okaloosa County School District for answers about a disputed technology contract.
The Okaloosa Citizens Alliance and the African-American Community Leaders Alliance sent letters questioning why a committee recommended continuing the district’s 10-year relationship with L3 Communications instead of using Edcovation LLC, which would cost about $1 million less per year.
Read a copy of the African-American Community Leaders Alliance's letter. >>
Read the school district's request for proposals. >>
“We’re not taking a position. It just raised eyebrows,” said Michael Barnes, president of the Citizens Alliance. “I think the school district owes the community an explanation.”
Edcovation, a new joint-venture company, challenged the recommendation in early November. Bob Schmidt, the company’s vice president, said the committee noted Edcovation was capable, just like L3, of providing and maintaining technological equipment and hardware for the district.
The company filed a letter of protest and the two organizations now want answers from school officials.
“Every year this School Board struggles with budget shortfalls and is unable to fund worthy school programs or activities,” the letter from the Community Leaders Alliance states. “It is unrealistic to think that a $1 million savings is not worthy to the taxpayers and our children.”
The contract has not been awarded yet. Officials haven’t spoken publicly about the issue because School Board policy doesn’t permit it when a contract is challenged, School Board attorney Jeff McInnis said.
“They’re not avoiding comment,” he said. “But legally right now they can’t talk about it.”
Such contract disputes are uncommon, but board procedure dictates that the parties try to resolve the issue informally first.
Read board procedure for the resolution of protests. >>
If they can’t reach an agreement, an administrative hearing with a judge in Tallahassee is held. The judge will make a “recommended order” and the School Board, acting as a quasi-judicial body, will make a final recommendation.
After that, either side can take the issue to the 1st District Court of Appeals.
The Citizens Alliance and Community Leaders Alliance noted they didn’t want to see the issue go to court, but urged the School Board and district officials to explain the recommendation.
“For us it’s a matter of wanting to get more information,” Barnes said. “Hopefully, the explanation is profound enough it makes sense.”