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i on aa Gen bes dih, ui ashe lb iil dh | ib bE iE iii L oad a w FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2000 Contract details kept secret Board watcher is leery of deal with IBM By Rik Davie Special to the Star The multi-million dollar deal between the Durham District School Board and computer giant IBM will make "education interactive and benefit our students for many years", according to DDSB Director of Education Grant Yeo. But the deal, rumoured to be worth more than $15 million over several years, has come under fire from some members of the public, who are concerned over what they see as secrecy on the part of the parties involved. Keith Hobbs, a retired technical and nego- tiations professional who lives in Port Perry, has attended many of the board meetings where the deal - it would see IBM supply com- puters, software and service to the board - has been discussed. He voiced some of his con- cerns at the June 12 board meeting. "It concerns me that I can't seem to get any of the details of this agreement and that while final contracts have not been signed, there seems to me to be some vital areas of dispute with management," said Mr. Hobbs. Mr. Yeo said that board staff members have met with Mr. Hobbs on several occasions, and passed his concerns on to board lawyers who are currently working out the wording of the final contract. When complete, the contract will allow for the supply and service of computers to the board, as well as a complete software package for use by all levels in the school system. There are further plans for the development of existing and new software packages through the Durham board which could see benefits (either monetary or contractual) to the board in the future, officials say. Mr. Yeo will not discuss the details of the contract - which sets alarm bells off for Mr. Hobbs - citing usual procedure in deals of this type. "To discuss details of the contract and how they may benefit this board would not be usual," said Mr. Yeo. "To do so could endanger IBM's ability to be competitive in other con- tracts of a similar nature. That is part of any major deal." The only thing holding up the full imple- mentation of the deal is funding. The board is short in the area of technical funding, said the director. "We are still attempting to get from the province what we see to be our fair share of technology funding, and that has affected our ability to deliver new hardware to some areas," said Mr. Yeo. "But in the long run, the board will benefit greatly from this partner- ship." Mr. Hobbs said he intends to follow the process closely, and is making freedom of information requests in an attempt to discov- er more of the details about the deal. Several other boards in the province have entered into similar deals with IBM, and the Durham deal is expected to be finalized in the fall. Port Perry i 1881 Scugog Ste || Value Meal { BACON DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER with fries & 21 oz. soft drink O A K RE SO I CI GOLF CLUB Strategic 6400 yard through our website Thomas McBroom design Golf Packages available www.golfoakridge.com GREEN FEES: $45 Weekdays $55 Weekends 9 Holes © $25 - $30 2pm Twilight ¢ $35 - $40 4 KM. NORTH OF ASHBURN e 4 KM. SOUTH OF UTICA off Ashbum Rd. & follow the signs 905-985-8390 PORT PERRY * 905-649-6212 CLAREMONT |