BPS buys $540,000 computer software

By Debra Dowling, Leader Staff Writer

Bellevue Public Schools spent more than half a million dollars on computer software last month, using one-time-only federal stimulus money to foot the bill.

Officials said the $540,000 math software will be used in the district’s neediest schools and Early Childhood programs, in compliance with government mandates.

BPS Director of Fiscal Affairs Kyle Fairbairn said the district’s curriculum committee approved the expenditure, which covers all the rights to the software as opposed to paying an annual licensing fee to the Princeton Review, the software maker.

Ordinarily, Fairbairn said, the district would have paid an annual fee — $30,000 in this case — but might not have been able to budget for that in subsequent years without stimulus funds.

“You’re only going to get so much money for Title 1,” he said, “and the district has made a commitment to put a focus on math.”

Title 1, as defined by the federal government, provides money to schools “to ensure that children in poverty have an opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement and state academic assessments.”

It’s beneficial to own the rights, Fairbairn said, because demographics can change, possibly increasing the future number of at-risk schools.

“If one of our high schools or middle schools were to be added to the list, for instance, we’d have to pay another annual fee,” he said. “This way, they can all use the software now.”

BPS’ Title 1 schools are Belleaire, Betz, Central and Birchcrest elementary schools, said BPS spokeswoman Cathy Williams.

The line item represents 88 percent of BPS’ total stimulus money of $613,000. Teachers will receive training on the software in August.