Minnesota Windfall
By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 12/1/2005
A $174.5 million loss for the software giant Microsoft has turned into a big boost for Minnesota schools’ technology budgets.
After Microsoft settled a class-action lawsuit in 2004, nearly $100 million remained unclaimed by Minnesota consumers, who had accused the firm of overcharging for its software. As part of the settlement, nearly half—about $50 million—will go to the state’s K–12 public schools to help fund technology. The distribution will favor those districts serving low-income areas, according to Mary Mehsikomer, a senior project planner for the Minnesota Department of Education. “It’s a huge boost for our school districts, which are struggling to keep up to date with technology,” she says.
About 480 awards—ranging from $5.7 million for the St. Paul School District to $203 to each of several charter schools—will be distributed beginning January 27, 2006, and districts can choose to divide the money as they see fit. The awards are still being calculated, and the amounts could fluctuate up or down by 10 percent when schools finally receive their vouchers. But educators statewide appear grateful for whatever windfall they end up receiving.
“It’s giving our students opportunities that we couldn’t budget for otherwise,” says Mike Willis, technology director for the Duluth School District, which is receiving $798,000 of the settlement. “I don’t know if this is a good deal for Microsoft, but it’s a good deal for our students.”
