AGO 1996-082.

• Case Date: January 08, 1996
• Court: Alabama

Alabama Attorney General Opinions 1996. AGO 1996-082. 1996-082January 8, 1996Honorable Jan A. Farley Superintendent of Education Cullman County Schools P.O. Drawer 518 Cullman, AL 35056-0518 Boards of Education - Competitive Bid Law - Data Processing - Funds Funds may be expended for the purchase of college/career information software only if previously budgeted therefore in compliance with Code of Alabama 1975, _ 16-36-29.1.Dear Ms. Farley: This opinion is issued in response to your request for an opinion from the Attorney General. QUESTION Can the Cullman County School System purchase computerized college/career information software with instructional supply money provided by the Foundation Program? FACTS AND ANALYSIS The Cullman County Commission on Education and its superintendent have presented the following statement to the Attorney General concerning this request for an opinion: Recently an auditor from the State Examiners of Public Accounts gave us a verbal opinion that instructional supply money from the Foundation Program could not be used to purchase computerized college/ career information software. His opinion was based on the fact that the software was being used to project future careers or educational endeavors, and it did not apply to present educational applications. Because our system values career education in our guidance, vocational, and academic programs, and because this software helps teachers, students, and parents to focus on a variety of career/ college choices, we are requesting your opinion on this matter. We reference not only the essential skills listed in the state guidance and counseling program, but career modules on vocational task lists and the state courses of study for academic classes. In researching the law in an effort to answer this question, we have examined _ 16-36-29.1, Code of Alabama 1975. According to that statute, the adoption of a budget for the expenditure of classroom instructional supply funds shall be by secret ballot. Code of Alabama 1975, _ 16-36-29.1(f). Only those funds budgeted may be expended. Thus, in this particular factual instance, the...