MD School Bids for Interactive White Boards!

Here's what it looks like when a public school system in Maryland asks for bids on a purchase of Interactive White Boards.  

St. Mary's Public Schools asked for bids.  They received 3 proposals from distributors.  They picked the cheapest distributor.

This is what Montgomery County Public Schools and Superintendent Joshua Starr refuses to do when purchasing Interactive White Boards from Promethean.

St Marys County Ps Smart

Breaking News: Promethean Not Included in State Master Contract! MCPS Fail!

Update November 30, 2012:  Someone at the State of Maryland has now added in the name "Promethean" on the drop down menu for the Master Hardware Contract.  Promethean didn't exist on the list as of the date of this posting, and the Master Contract didn't even exist as of the date of the Board of Education vote.  Is someone at the State of Maryland now attempting to cover up that the Board of Education voted on an expired contract? 
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Yesterday, Councilmember Hans Riemer enthusiastically tweeted "End of story" to the purchase by MCPS of 2,000 Promethean Boards.  

Councilmember Riemer had hung his hat on the MCPS "story" that they were going to use a State of Maryland Contract (see minute 43 of video) to purchase 2,000 Promethean Boards.  But, the Maryland State contract wasn't signed until the day after the Montgomery County Council hearing and vote! 

And guess what?  When the Maryland Master Hardware Contract was approved by the Board of Public Works on November 14th, the approved Contract DID NOT INCLUDE PROMETHEAN as an approved contractor.  See for yourself.  Click here and click on the Select Manufacturer list.  Do you see Promethean listed? 

Yet, Promethean's competitor SMART Technologies is listed.

It is now clear that the Maryland State Master Hardware Contract that had been cited by Superintendent Joshua Starr in his resolution to the Board of Education on September 11th does not include Promethean as a contractor.  Does Superintendent Starr have an explanation for his use of a contract that was not only expired, but even the renewal doesn't cover the purchase cited in his Resolution to the Board of Education? 

We look forward to Councilmember Riemer's next Tweet of the next version of MCPS' cover up/story regarding the purchase of 2,000 Promethean brand Interactive White Boards with taxpayer dollars.