MADISON, WI (WSAU) - Many supporters of a Stevens Point business were anxiously awaiting a vote from the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee today... but it didn’t happen. The committee delayed taking a vote on a motion to defund the Department of Public Instruction’s single-vendor student information system contract offer with Infinite Campus.
Stevens Point based Skyward has been appealing that contract award since it was announced in early February. Since then, several Democrats and Republicans have been working to stop that contract for several reasons. Skyward has appealed to the DPI and was told their appeal had no merit. They have since appealed to the Department of Administration, which has not made a decision. DOA Secretary Mike Huebsch is on record saying he supports a single vendor system, so it may be difficult for Skyward to win that appeal.
Democratic Senator Julie Lassa and Representative Katrina Shankland introduced legislation to end the single vendor system and allow multiple vendors to compete. Assembly Bill 60 and Senate Bill 54 have been buried in committee and has not had a hearing or a vote. Fellow Democrat Amy Sue Vruwink has also supported this legislation, along with Republican Representatives Scott Krug and John Spiros.
Representative Krug has also been lobbying Joint Finance Committee members to remove the funding for the current contract, which could force the DPI to allow a multiple vendor system. Krug believes there are enough votes to make the change, but we’ll have to wait until next week or later to get the vote.
In the meantime, The Portage County Board of Supervisors is voting this afternoon on an advisory resolution, urging the state to get rid of the single vendor contract and support Skyward in a multiple vendor environment.