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Archive for the ‘Computers’ Category

Feeding time for Department of Education online courses for Jindal’s Student Scholarships for Educatonal Excellence Act

Posted in BESE, Campaign Contributions, Charters, Computers, Education, Governor's Office, House, Senate, Legislature, Legislators, Privatization, Vouchers on August 22, 2012| 7 Comments »

And so it came to pass that LouisianaVoice’s June 20 story about course providers as allowed by HB 976 (Act 2) of this year’s regular legislative session is playing out precisely as we said it would: the hogs are already bellying up to the buffet.

Course providers, you may recall, are the new kids on the education block who are crowding in for their slice of education funds pie by teaching virtual classes online. They don’t have classrooms but at least there’s no bus for students to catch.

The early submission deadline for potential course providers was Aug. 17 and the early Department of Education (DOE) review to accept, defer or reject applicants is Sept. 14. The interview of applicants who have been tentatively approved will begin on Sept. 18 and DOE is scheduled to post the accepted applications online by Sept. 28.

There were 25 applicants as of Tuesday, Aug. 21, according to documents provided by DOE.

The Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Act, as HB 976 is officially known, directs the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to create a “reciprocal teacher certification process” for teachers who reside in other states by next January.

Under terms of the act, postsecondary education institutions may serve as quality course providers for students who seek advanced level course work or technical or vocational instruction. Because “technical” and “vocational” were included in the bill’s language, that could mean that “postsecondary education institutions” would include not only traditional universities and colleges, but individuals, vocational and technical schools and proprietary schools.

But the bill goes on to specify that business and industry may also serve as “quality course providers that offer course work in their particular field of expertise.”

Courses would be available to students attending a public school that receives a letter grade of “C,” “D,” or “R,” or who is attending a public school that does not offer the course in which a student desires to enroll, the act says.

The 25 applicants and courses offered include:

• ATS Project Success, Clinton Township, Michigan (K-12 online, English/language arts, math, science, social studies);

• McKinney Byrd Academy, Shreveport (high school, career and technical education/apprentice (CTE) program, business tech and computer apps, hospitality, early childhood, urban farming/landscaping and hair care techniques);

• Lincoln National Academy, Dallas (high school core and elective courses including career and technical education courses);

• Pelican Chapter, Associated Builders and Contractors, Baton Rouge and Westlake (online, face-to-face courses in carpentry, electrical, instrumentation, heavy equipment, millwright, mobile crane, pipefitting, welding);

• Work Ready Education and Career Services, Philadelphia, PA. (comprehensive core curriculum and career and technical education courses);

• Plato Learning, Bloomington, MN. (K-12, CTE, advanced placement (AP), full curriculum of courses);

• iSpace Educational Services, dba iSpace, Inc., of Princeton, N.J. (grades 3-6);

• Louisiana Education Television Authority/Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Baton Rouge (AP, French I and II, Spanish I and II, Fine Arts Survey and Environmental Science);

• Bayard Management Group, Slidell (face to face, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Tammany, Orleans, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes);

• JRL Enterprises, New Orleans (online K-12);

• Educational Bedrock, Inc., Baton Rouge (corporate/industry, East Baton Rouge, Baker, Zachary, St. Helena—math, engineering prep and internships in welding, carpentry, electrical, auto technology, pharmacy, cosmetology, dental assistant);

• Princeton Review, Farmington, MA, not affiliated with Princeton University (ACT prep);

• Cyber Innovation Center, Bossier City (variety of innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education (STEM) courses);

• Multiple Teaching Systems, Baton Rouge (K-8 curriculum);

• Scholar Apprentice Tutoring, Baton Rouge (array of career and technical education offerings);

• Sylvan Learning (ACT and AP tutoring, credit recovery courses);

• K12, Herndon, VA. (comprehensive high school academic offerings, including AP course offerings);

• EducateMe, Fairfield NJ (education software for schools);

• Florida Virtual School, Orlando, FL (“extremely broad” array of core curriculum and AP course offerings);

• Apex Learning, Mandeville (headquarters Seattle, WA) (“very extensive” array of core curriculum courses);

• Southern University, Baton Rouge (“very broad array” of academic and elective courses, middle school through college credit);

• Head First, North Miami Beach, FL (broad array of academic and career and technical education courses);

• mSchool, no address (grade 6-12 math curricula);

• Gerald “Jude” Dubois, Vermilion Parish educational entrepreneur (math);

• Connections Education, Baltimore, MD (three applications covering AP offerings across a number of academic subjects and core curriculum course offerings).

HB 976 contains an extra incentive to attract online course providers: “The course provider shall receive a course amount for each eligible funded student” at an amount equal to the market rate “as determined by the course provider” and reported to DOE.

Simply stated, course providers are given carte blanche to set their own rates.

And to hedge their bets, some providers took the added precaution of greasing skids in the form of campaign contributions. Here are a few of those:

Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors:

• Rep. Neil Abramson (D-New Orleans)—$2500;

• BESE member Holly Boffy—$5000;

• Rep. Stephen Carter (R-Baton Rouge)—$10,000;

• Rep. Simone Champagne (R-Erath)—$2250;

• Sen. Dan Claitor (R-Baton Rouge)—$500;

• Sen. A.G. Crowe (R-Slidell)—$1000;

• Former Sen. Ann Duplessis (D-New Orleans)—$3000;

• Former Rep. Noble Ellington (R-Winnsboro)—$3500;

• Sen. Dale Erdy (R-Livingston)—$500;

• Rep. Jim Fannin (D-Jonesboro)—$500;

• Rep. Franklin Foil (R-Baton Rouge)—$2250;

• BESE member James Garvey—$5000;

• Rep. Ray Garofalo, Jr. (R-Chalmette)—$5000;

• Rep. Hunter Greene (R-Baton Rouge)—$1000;

• Former Sen. Nick Gautreaux (D-Meaux)—$500;

• Rep. Mickey Guillory (D-Eunice)—$2500;

• BESE member Jay Guillot (R-Ruston)—$5000;

• Former Rep. Ricky Hardy (D-Lafayette)—2500;

• Rep. Kenneth Havard (R-Jackson)—$2500;

• Rep. Lowell Hazel (R-Pineville)—$2500;

• BESE member Carolyn Hill—$5000;

• Rep. Valarie Hodges (R-Denham Springs)—$2500;

• Rep. Frank Hoffman (R-West Monroe)—$2250;

• Rep. Dalton Honoré (D-Baton Rouge)—2250;

• Former Rep. Michael Jackson (D-Baton Rouge)—2500;

• House Speaker Chuck Kleckley (R-Lake Charles)—$500;

• Sen. Robert Kostelka (R-Monroe)—$500;

• Rep. Anthony Ligi (R-Metairie)—$3500;

• Sen. Gerald Long (R-Natchitoches)—2500;

• Former Rep. Nickie Monica (R-LaPlace)—1000;

• Former Rep. Rickey Nowlin (R-Natchitoches)—$1750;

• BESE member Kira Orange Jones—$10,000;

• Sen. Jonathan Perry (R-Kaplan)—2250;

• Former Rep. Clifton Richardson (R-Greenwell Springs)—$2500;

• Sen. Neil Riser (R-Columbia)—$500;

• Rep. Joel Robideaux (R-Lafayette)—$2250;

• BESE member Chas Roemer—$10,000;

• Former Sen. Craig Romero (R-New Iberia)—$500;

• Former Rep. Errol Romero (D-New Iberia)—$500;

• Rep. Clay Schexnayder (R-Sorrento)—$2500;

• Rep. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport)—$2500;

• Former Rep. Mert Smiley (R-St. Amant)—$500;

• Rep. Patricia Smith (D-Baton Rouge)—$2500;

• Sen. Richard Ward (D-Port Allen)—1000;

• Sen. Robert Adley (R-Benton)—$500;

Cyber Innovations officers:

• Rep. Henry Burns (R-Haughton)—$500;

• Former Rep. Jane Smith (R-Bossier City)—$500;

• Gov. Piyush Jindal—$1000;

Sylvan Learning Center officers:

• Gov. Piyush Jindal—$1000;

K12:

• Sen. President John Alario (R-Westwego)—$500;

• BESE member Holly Boffy—$1000;

• Sen. Dan Claitor—$500;

• Sen. Jean-Paul Morrell (D-New Orleans)—$500;

• House Speaker Kleckley—$500;

• Gov. Jindal—$5000;

• Rep. Walt Leger, III (D-New Orleans)—$500;

• Rep. Daniel Martiny (R-Metairie)—$500;

• Sen. Jonathan Perry—$500;

• South PAC, East PAC, North PAC and West PAC—$10,000;

JRL Enterprises:

• Gov. Jindal—$5000;

iSpace:

• Sen. A.G. Crowe—$1500;

• Gov. Jindal—$3200.

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Jindal as a computer program: he’d be 2012 Nixon Upgrade

Posted in Computers, Education, Governor's Office, House, Senate, Legislature, Legislators, Retirement on March 24, 2012| 9 Comments »

Short shorts around the State Capitol

Just in case you may have missed it, we found yet another in a long line of examples of Jindal arrogance and hypocrisy from a few days ago:

• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers have devoted their careers to the education and training of literally thousands upon thousands of Louisiana’s youth; and

• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers have provided additional job and social skill training for adults throughout the state; and

• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers have rendered valuable services in diverse leadership roles to their communities and institutions throughout their careers and continue to render such services as retirees; and

• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers represent the profession, which is given the basic responsibility for launching the careers of state and national leaders, and for laying the foundation for the welfare of all members of our society; and

• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers represent a tremendous pool of experience and training which remains dedicated and dependable support to the leaders in our communities, state, and nation; and

• Whereas, Louisiana’s retired teachers represent a loyal, patriotic, and concerned citizenry which provides a dedicated and dependable support to the leaders in our communities, state and nation.

• Now, therefore, I, Bobby Jindal, Governor of the State of Louisiana, do hereby proclaim March 15, 2012 as

Retired Teachers Day in the State of Louisiana.

Other than to question the grammar of the next-to-last whereas (“which remains dedicated and dependable support”—does anyone proofread these things?), we have nothing to add except to observe that even the pickle gets a full week and the rutabaga gets an entire month.

Fear and Loathing on the House Floor

Freshman House member Bob Hensgens (R-Abbeville) reportedly visited a constituent recently and confided that he had no choice other than to vote with the governor on the education bills lest the governor cancel the LA. Highway 14 construction project in his district.

Nice to know, observed the constituent that “my job, (my) retirement and all Louisiana children and teachers are less important than a few miles of highway.”

If true, Hensgens apparently is either sufficiently politically astute to throw up the appropriate smokescreen to detract from the real issue at hand or he is far too naïve to try to swim with the sharks in Baton Rouge.

The word we get is the project is already at or near completion. It would be rather difficult for the governor to undo the work that’s already done.

Such is life these days with this governor. In computer parlance, one might be prone to refer to Jindal as 2012 Nixon Upgrade: like Nixon, he is more than a little paranoid, he is certainly as vindictive as Nixon (see: Teague, Teague, Richie, Manuel, Champagne & Daniel) and he has complete and total disdain for existing law (see the U.S. Constitution position on breaking contracts as regards state retirement contributions and benefits).

But, as a longtime north Louisiana political observer says, “Is the public getting it yet? Do they see?”.

Dissent will not be tolerated, she noted. “The events that transpired on the House Floor on HB 976 and HB 974 finally show the true face of Jindal and his lackeys, as well as the absolute spinelessness of the House members.

“Thank goodness for the Black Caucus. Freshman Rep. Katrina Jackson…repeatedly embarrassed Rep. (Stephen) Carter, the author of the bills and the chairman of the House Education Committee who, as was clearly demonstrated, does not know what is in his own bills.

“He (Carter) finally grew tired of looking like a fool and ‘refused’ to take questions on his own amendments. The Speaker was forced to drag other administration lackeys such as Rep. Ligi to the mike to give equally evasive and/or uninformed answers.

“…These bills are bad for Louisiana. Who ever heard of giving school boards the responsibility to hire and pay a local superintendent, but then tell that same school board that they cannot supervise that superintendent? This is madness. Local superintendents are somehow now answerable (the bill is unclear on how this will actually work) to the State Superintendent, an appointed lackey who is not answerable to the voters or, technically, even to the governor!

“This is the ‘small-government-is-best crowd that is consolidating power at the state level?

” What the hell?”

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What the Dell’s going on here? (or fantasy-world volume sales in the real world of state government purchasing)

Posted in Computers on February 22, 2012| 2 Comments »

Agencies throughout Louisiana state government use Dell desktop computers almost exclusively so it must be assumed that competitive bids were taken on the equipment and that the state paid the most economical price.

After all, there are literally dozens of state agencies and many more offices within those agencies. Estimates vary as to the actual number of active employees on the state payroll at any given time but it is generally agreed there around 50,000-or more.

And virtually all those employees have a desktop computer—a Dell—assigned to them.

And, yes, of course competitive bids are taken. It’s the law.

Fewer, but still a substantial number of state employees have the need for laptop computers. Those include state police officers and employees who perform much of their work in the field.

Those computers, for the most part, also are Dells.

So one would surmise that when an agency takes quotes on one or two Dell laptops, Dell would give the state the best possible price, given the thousands of computers it has already sold to the state.

One might surmise, but one might be wrong.

First of all, if the purchase price is below a certain amount, informal quotes from vendors may suffice in lieu of going through the more lengthy and involved bid process. That is certainly understandable.

Still, it would be reasonable to expect to attract the most favorable quotes.

One state agency recently asked for quotes for two Dell Latitude E6420 laptops. The quotes from Dell were quite surprising.

The price was $1,448.71 each for a total of $2,897.42. By the time two Kensington Microsaver laptop locks (security cable locks) were added in at $37.29 each ($74.78 for the two), the total cost for the two units came to $2,972.20.

Again, to the non-skeptic, it would seem reasonable to assume that with the state’s volume buying from Dell, the company would have discounted the laptops in order to cut the agency the best deal possible. Think again.

A quick online check of Dell prices found the Dell Latitude E6420 listed for $1,042.51 each—$406.20 less than Dell’s quote for the state agency for the same model. Some, obviously stripped-down models of the same laptop, were going for as low as $670 and $750.

It would be a daunting task to learn how many times this scenario is repeated throughout state government. We do know, however, that this agency followed procedure in requesting quotes and if no one made a better offer it will probably pay the higher price.

Perhaps this is an example of trickle-up economics because it most certainly isn’t trickle-down.

It’s your money.

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Even in fiscal hard times, state cell phones still abound

Posted in Computers, Contract, Contracts on July 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

BATON ROUGE (CNS)—State agencies paid nearly $3.4 million, an average of more than $282,000 per month for cell phone usage for more than 3,900 state employees during FY-2010, according to public records obtained by LouisianaVoice.

LouisianaVoice initiated the inquiry into state cell phone usage when it was learned that California Gov. Jerry Brown ordered state employees to turn in some 48,000 cell phones.

Only one state agency, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, was found to have issued no cell phones to university employees, though it did issue four air cards for campus police, three for Rehabilitation Science field engineers for off-campus use, and one for an employee whose job duties require extensive travel.

Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge more than made up for Tech’s lack of communication devices, however.

LSU shelled out more than $492,000 for 688 taxpayer-funded cell phones, Blackberries, Smart Phones, I-Phones, and air cards from June 30, 2009 through May 31, 2010, records show.

One has to wonder how LSU can justify the need for 688 university employees to have cell phones at taxpayer cost.

The $41,038 average monthly cost for LSU cell phones was more than the $40,624 annual costs for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette ($12,920), Grambling State University ($10,859), Southern University New Orleans ($10,797), and Louisiana Tech’s eight air cards ($6,048) combined.

LSU’s monthly cell phone costs also compared with the annual rates of eight other institutions of higher learning: Southeastern Louisiana University ($33,885); Baton Rouge Community College ($32,167); University of New Orleans ($36,733); Southern University ($52,728); McNeese State University ($33,333); Nicholls State University ($27,776), University of Louisiana-Monroe ($57,978) and Northwestern State University ($35,240).

The governor’s office and the Division of Administration (DOA) combined to spend $245,969 for cell phones for 402 employees of the governor’s office (61), DOA (107), the Office of Telecommunications Management (32), the Office of Risk Management (18), and the Office of Group Benefits (6).

DOA, it should be noted, while keeping the same number of phones, cut its cell phone costs by more than $100,000 from Fiscal Year 2010 ($250,000) to FY-2011 ($145,000).

Along with the request on the number and costs of agency cell phones, LouisianaVoice also asked agencies to justify the need for the number of cell phones being used. While most agencies were quick to provide date on numbers and costs of the phones, only a few attempted to justify their usage.

Michael Ferrell of LSU-Shreveport said the university operates a police department that uses cell phones only as part of the university’s emergency notification system. He also said computer maintenance and information technology personnel need the cell phones in case of any technical problems.

Likewise, Louisiana Educational Television Authority (LETA) operates a network of six transmitters on a 24-hour basis, making it essential that LETA be able to contact engineers in the event of transmitter problems, according to Steve Graziano, chief operating officer for Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Lt. Col. Louis Thompson said the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control employees 50 law enforcement agents who are assigned throughout the state and that it is crucial that each agency have access to instant communication.

The lieutenant governor’s office appeared to have the most creative explanation: law enforcement, personal safety, and public welfare—duties more often assigned to the Department of Public Safety than the lieutenant governor’s office.

The issuance of a cell phone in the lieutenant governor’s office apparently would depend on whether or not “the job duties of the individual require the performance of duties that could impact the protection of life and property,” said Julia George Moore, general counsel for the lieutenant governor’s office.

Since the lieutenant governor heads up the Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, it’s conceivable that that office would have the responsibility for the safety of tourists during, say, a hurricane. It’s also conceivable that those duties would require 60 cell phones.

Jan Jackson, responding for the Louisiana Community Technical College System, said, “All employees with LCTCS issued mobile devices are expected to be in communication with this office while traveling to our sites around the state and to be available by phone or Blackberry on a 24/7 basis. We conduct a considerable amount of business with our employees remotely by phone or email,” she said. “It is necessary for our employees to travel to our many sites around the state to conduct audits, to troubleshoot IT problems, to manage construction projects, to oversee our adult education and grant programs and to provide assistance and training for our college and grant personnel.”

The University of New Orleans, with 15 cell phones, nevertheless is picky in issuing the devices to personnel. “No department head, dean, vice chancellor or like position has a university-paid cell phone or wireless connection,” said Deborah K. Bridges, director of purchasing for UNO.

Other state agencies, the number of cell phones, Blackberries, Smart Phones, or I-Phones and the annual cost to each of the agencies include:

• Department of Public Safety—865 ($349,080);

• Department of Corrections—304 ($249,842);

• Department of Education—236 ($273,160);

• Department of Revenue—154 ($138,102);

• Department of Transportation & Development—489 (337,435);

• Department of Economic Development—48 ($37,447);

• Treasury Department—56 ($22,016);

• Lieutenant Governor—60 ($54,017);

• Louisiana Public Broadcasting—20 ($15,060);

• Inspector General—2 ($1,534);

• Office of Financial Institutions—16 ($13,769);

• Wildlife & Fisheries—80 (40,000);

• Department of Justice (Attorney General)—71 ($44,815);

• Department of Insurance—20 ($13,559);

• Secretary of State—9 ($3,720);

• Department of Natural Resources—16 ($12,300);

• Department of Agriculture—22 ($13,543);

• Department of Environmental Quality—144 ($56,113);

• Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control—55 ($48,900);

• State Board of Ethics—4 ($3,244);

• House of Representatives—20 ($12,904);

• State Senate—17 ($16,795).

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