One of the unsuccessful bidders vying for Idaho’s teacher evaluations software contract has accused the state of running a flawed and biased purchasing process.
The Legislature approved $1 million in funding two years ago for software designed to streamline evaluations reporting. Yet, districts are still without the state supported software and a contract has yet to be finalized.
A Department of Administration program specialist has said the apparent successful vendor for the software contract was Frontline Education.
In October, Rudi Lewis, CEO of Meridian-based Silverback Learning, wrote a letter seeking administrative review of Idaho’s bidding and contracting procedures. Lewis expressed concern that Silverback was originally selected the finalist for the contract but was disqualified following the removal of rating scores due to one of the evaluators having a possible conflict of interest.
Department of Administration Director Bob Geddes denied Silverback’s appeal and request for a determinations officer to review the case.
Issues with the evaluations software contract procedures came to light last month when Idaho Governor Butch Otter accused state Representative Wendy Horman and State Board of Education Executive Director Matt Freeman of attempting to circumvent state purchasing laws by steering the contract to a preferred vendor. Otter did not name the alleged preferred vendor in his letter, but a review of hundreds of pages of emails and state records suggest the vendor in question was Silverback.
Horman and Freeman have denied any wrongdoing. (Idaho Statesman)
