School system to get $102K in software vouchers
|
The bad news is there are significant restrictions on what can be purchased with the vouchers.
In Warren County, the local school system will receive $102,000 for its portion of the settlement. Each school district will get approximately $16.40 per student.
Memphis city schools will receive the most at $1.9 million.
?It?s restricted as to what you can buy,? said Katrina Haley, who oversees Warren County?s computer technology. ?You can only use it to purchase Microsoft software. You can?t buy any hardware. And even the software you can buy is restricted. I wish it wasn?t that way.?
Haley also stressed the school system will receive vouchers worth $102,000 ? not $102,000 in cash. She says school systems must purchase the software, send in the bar codes, and then get refunded for the purchase.
The $15.3 million settlement is the result of a class action lawsuit filed against Microsoft for unlawful trade practices to maintain a monopoly and overcharge Tennessee consumers.
The vouchers may be used for software such as Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office applications and encyclopedia software.
?We are pleased the outcome will allow Tennessee school systems to upgrade technology for the benefit of their students and allow additional resources to be directed toward improving teaching and learning,? said Tennessee Education Commissioner Lana Seivers.