ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) - Both Democrats and Republicans are supporting a change in how the state picks a school software vendor. Democrats Katrina Shankland and Julie Lassa have authored Assembly Bill 60 and it’s companion Senate Bill 54. Both bills would change the mandatory single vendor contract for a student information software package to a multi-vendor deal. Both bills are stuck in committee.
Representative Don Pridemore will be bringing a proposal he says is better than AB60 because it allows any number of possible vendors to participate in the free market.
Pridemore recently ran against State Superintendent Tony Evers, who wants the single vendor system. Pridemore expects work on his bill to begin quickly.
Pridemore is convinced the free market system will be good for the schools, save taxpayer money, and eliminate a government created monopoly.
The Representative also wants to include language requiring the computer data to be stored within the state of Wisconsin where they can better ensure data security.
On a related note, Pridemore’s fellow Republicans voted Saturday at their state convention to support an amended education resolution. That resolution calls for support of a free market multi-vendor system