Fair representation of minority and female government contractors is widely accepted as a worthy goal, but Ackerman's means of pursuing it were dubious at best, as the case at hand underscored. While SDT had begun preliminary work and was approved for such no-bid contracts, the superintendent ordered that the $7.5 million job be redirected to IBS even though it was not so approved. The African American superintendent then explained to fellow administrators that she was tired of contracts going to "white boys," according to court documents, and wanted more of the district's vendors to look like her.