Introduction to Broward Schools’ Laptop Initiative
Broward schools are moving ahead with a highly scrutinized plan to buy thousands of laptops for students, amid guidance that a county inspector general investigation needn’t delay it.
Background on the Investigation
The Broward School Board agreed at a workshop on Tuesday to bring back the delayed $115 million computer contract, primarily with HP, for consideration at the Sept. 16 meeting. If approved, the district could start providing laptops to students in about two months, Superintendent Howard Hepburn told the School Board.
Hepburn had put the contract on the agenda for meetings in May and July, but in both cases, he withdrew the requests. This delayed an initiative to issue a take-home laptop to every student, an effort that was scheduled to start at the beginning of the school year.
Reasons for Delay
Hepburn had cited an ongoing investigation with the county’s Office of Inspector General as the reason for the delays. The district received an anonymous complaint questioning whether the process to buy the computers was fair to all vendors, officials said.
The district had canceled the bidding process twice before due to concerns raised by vendors. Hepburn said he conducted his own internal review of the most recent bidding process and didn’t see any problems.
Investigation Update
Still, the School Board agreed during a July 29 to hold off on buying the laptops. That week, Dave Rhodes, the district’s chief auditor, also sent a letter to Inspector General Carol “Jodie” Breece seeking an update on the investigation.
Breece wouldn’t provide a timeline for the review but addressed the district’s move to delay the purchase of the computers until the investigation was complete.
“While the Board would certainly be at liberty to do so, we would not encourage any entity to delay a business decision with the hopes that an OIG investigation will timely result in helpful information,” she wrote. “We consider all information we receive with due care, and we afford those matters that merit a substantive review a thorough investigation.”
Breece wrote that the office “won’t abbreviate our investigations, regardless of the existence of external circumstances, as doing so can jeopardize the integrity of our work product.”
Breece has declined requests by the South Florida Sun Sentinel to comment on or confirm the investigation, citing a state law on active or pending investigations.
Potential Consequences
If an investigation were to find unethical or illegal behavior, the district would have the option to terminate the contract and discipline any employees involved, Hepburn and General Counsel Marylin Batista said Tuesday.
“If there’s a person or people doing something nefarious to sway or influence the outcome of this (bidding process), I’ll be bringing them to the board for termination, because we just don’t operate like that,” Hepburn said. “That’s not my expectation of how they should conduct business.”
Impact on Students
School Board members said Tuesday that the district’s decision to delay buying the laptops was hurting students, since many of the district’s existing computers were out of date.
“This is something that has increasingly become concerning to me, especially as I’m talking to schools and parents about the quality and condition of their current laptops,” Board member Rebecca Thompson said.
Chief Information Officer Trey Davis told the School Board that the outdated computers create performance and security risks.
Board member Allen Zeman said School Board members should have moved forward with the laptop purchase right after they received the inspector general’s letter.
“I did not buy my kids’ laptops this year because the school was going to give them one,” Zeman said. The school district “made a commitment to our students. They’re fundamental to learning. We have no evidence of any wrongdoing.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Broward School Board’s decision to move forward with the laptop purchase is a step in the right direction, despite the ongoing investigation. The district’s commitment to providing students with the necessary tools for learning is crucial, and the outdated computers currently in use pose significant performance and security risks.
FAQs
Q: What is the estimated cost of the laptop contract?
A: The estimated cost of the laptop contract is $115 million.
Q: How soon can students expect to receive their laptops if the contract is approved?
A: If approved, the district could start providing laptops to students in about two months.
Q: What is the reason for the investigation by the county’s Office of Inspector General?
A: The investigation was prompted by an anonymous complaint questioning whether the process to buy the computers was fair to all vendors.
Q: Can the district terminate the contract if the investigation finds unethical or illegal behavior?
A: Yes, if an investigation were to find unethical or illegal behavior, the district would have the option to terminate the contract and discipline any employees involved.
