Software Company Protests New Single-Vendor System In Schools

The Department of Public Instruction has rejected the company Skyward‘s protests over a school software contract to an out-of-state company.

More than 200 people attended a rally this afternoon at Skyward headquarters in Stevens Point, many of them company workers afraid of losing their jobs if the decision isn’t reversed. Under the state’s new single-vendor software system, every school district would have to convert to the out-of-state software even though more than half of the districts now use the Skyward product.

Skyward President Jim King says the decision may drive his company out of Wisconsin. He broke into tears as he leveled a charge of bias against the Department of Public Instruction or DPI.

“They hate Skyward. DPI hates Skyward. They hate the customers that use Skyward. They finally concluded the only way to get rid of Skyward is to legislate us out of business.”

King vowed to appeal the decision to the next level, the state Department of Administration.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to repeal the single-vendor law, and return to the old multi-vendor system in which every district chooses its own software. Assemblywoman Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) said she will work to get it passed.

“Our bill would allow Skyward to continue doing business here, and keep their employees here. It would also save hundreds of Wisconsin jobs. It would restore local control to school districts.”

Rep. Scott Krug (R-Wisconsin Rapids) is threatening to withhold funding for the single-vendor conversion. Single-vendor supporters say the new system will make it easier to compare student achievement levels between districts.