City puts News Corp school technology project out to bid

Posted September 23, 2011 By Alexander Hotz

This summer’s News Corporation phone hacking scandal saw an unlikely casualty: a $27 million contract the New York State Department of Education sought to sign with an educational software company called Wireless Generation. The rejection of the deal by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also cast a spotlight on work this News Corp. subsidiary is doing with the city Department of Education, including under a $2.67 million deal to help develop the software driving a project called School of One. That agreement, which expires this November, had been awarded last year without any competing bids.

Now as it moves to expand School of One beyond three pilot schools, building on the system that Wireless Generation created, the city Department of Education has opened up bidding to other software companies, with submissions due October 5. Companies will be applying for licenses to bring the School of One system to schools across the city and to modify the existing code. School of One creates “playlists” of education activities for students to navigate on their own initiative.

Brooklyn-based Wireless Generation had been working closely with New York City’s schools on a variety of projects before its acquisition by News Corp. in November 2010 – just two weeks after former schools Chancellor Joel Klein left his post to head up News Corp.’s education division. Klein green-lighted School of One shortly before he left his post as chancellor. Wireless Generation secured the first School of One contract in June 2010 under a “negotiated acquisition,” in which the city secures a contract without putting it out to bid.

A City Department of Education spokeswoman said she did not know why the new contract is being offered by competitive bid. A pre-proposal conference on September 12 attracted 51 prospective bidders, including Apple, Dell and McGraw Hill. Wireless Generation was not present at that conference. Wireless Generation Vice-President of Communications Joan Lebow said that as a policy the company does not comment on contracts that have not yet been awarded.

Patrick Sullivan, a public school parent and member of the Panel for Education Policy, the board that approves City DOE contracts, expressed relief that other companies may be put in charge of the intensive collection of student-learning data at the heart of School of One. “I’m leery of News Corp. given what I understand their corporate culture to be,” said “Given the management failure in News Corp. we have to ensure that student data is protected.”

Sullivan also noted that even though Wireless Generation was a relatively recent addition to the parent company it should be treated with no less scrutiny.

“Anything to do with Wireless Generation should go out to bid,” Sullivan added.

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<h1>City puts News Corp school technology project out to bid</h1>This summer’s News Corporation phone hacking scandal saw an unlikely casualty: a $27 million contract the New York State Department of Education sought to sign with an educational software company called Wireless Generation. The rejection of the deal by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also cast a spotlight on work this News Corp. subsidiary is doing with the city Department of Education, including under a $2.67 million deal to help develop the software driving a project called School of One. That agreement, which expires this November, had been awarded last year without any competing bids.
 Now as it moves to expand School of One beyond three pilot schools, building on the system that Wireless Generation created, the city Department of Education has opened up bidding to other software companies, with submissions due October 5. Companies will be applying for licenses to bring the School of One system to schools across the city and to modify the existing code. School of One creates “playlists” of education activities for students to navigate on their own initiative.
Brooklyn-based Wireless Generation had been working closely with New York City’s schools on a variety of projects before its acquisition by News Corp. in November 2010 – just two weeks after former schools Chancellor Joel Klein left his post to head up News Corp.’s education division. Klein green-lighted School of One shortly before he left his post as chancellor. Wireless Generation secured the first School of One contract in June 2010 under a “negotiated acquisition,” in which the city secures a contract without putting it out to bid.
A City Department of Education spokeswoman said she did not know why the new contract is being offered by competitive bid. A pre-proposal conference on September 12 attracted 51 prospective bidders, including Apple, Dell and McGraw Hill. Wireless Generation was not present at that conference. Wireless Generation Vice-President of Communications Joan Lebow said that as a policy the company does not comment on contracts that have not yet been awarded.
Patrick Sullivan, a public school parent and member of the Panel for Education Policy, the board that approves City DOE contracts, expressed relief that other companies may be put in charge of the intensive collection of student-learning data at the heart of School of One. “I’m leery of News Corp. given what I understand their corporate culture to be,” said “Given the management failure in News Corp. we have to ensure that student data is protected.”
Sullivan also noted that even though Wireless Generation was a relatively recent addition to the parent company it should be treated with no less scrutiny.
“Anything to do with Wireless Generation should go out to bid,” Sullivan added.

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