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Summary:Â A contract that has been voided in the state of Idaho could affect the graduation of hundreds of high school seniors if they cannot take an online math class.
A school official from Idaho has said that high school students relying on the Idaho Education Network to complete their state-required math course might not be able to graduate, according to The State.
The reason for this is that the contract has been voided. A judge tossed out the $60 million broadband contract in Idaho this week. The judge, Fourth District Judge Patrick Owen, said that the contract was not put together legally.
Declo High School Principal Roland Bott said that the ruling from the judge left rural schools in limbo.
At Declo, 57 of the school’s 84 seniors need the network in order to take the math class that allows them to graduate.
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To read more stories about the state of Idaho, click here.
“That’s the part that frustrates me. I just feel bad that young people’s lives are potentially at risk because adults made wrong choices,” Bott said. “I don’t think that’s fair. And we can’t be the only school to be going through this.”
Declo uses the network because it could not hire a qualified teacher for the course.
“There are students who would lose dual-credit classes. But it wouldn’t jeopardize their graduation,” Bott said. “Right now, we’re more concerned who would lose the ability to graduate.”
The Idaho Department of Administration violated the procurement law in the state when it awarded the broadband contract, according to the judge’s ruling.
Idaho was sued by Syringa Networks in 2009, claiming that the department illegally awarded the contract to Qwest.
The ruling from Judge Owen could result in the state paying $15 million to the Federal Communication Commission. The reason for this payment would be the fact that the FCC originally helped to pay for part of the contract.
To read more FCC-related stories, click here.
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