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Board approves Epson copier contract as part of sustainability push; district cites lower energy use
Summary
After a pilot at two sites, the Laguna Beach board approved a CMAS contract to replace aging copiers with Epson models that use ink rather than plastic toner; staff said the change reduces plastic waste and could cut district energy use by an estimated 75%, and included a partnership component with student sustainability challenges.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District board voted to approve a California multiple award contract (CMAS) to replace aging copiers and printers with Epson workforce models following a district pilot.
Chief Technology Officer Mike Morrison described several benefits from the pilot: Epson machines use ink instead of traditional plastic toner cartridges (reducing plastic waste), require less energy (staff estimated about 75% energy savings districtwide), and the vendor offered favorable take-back/refurbish arrangements for retired devices. The district also described an educational partnership: students will participate in a sustainability challenge and visit the vendor's headquarters as part of curriculum-linked opportunities.
Board members asked about fleet disposition, recycling of retired devices and the operational differences between toner and ink machines; staff said Epson will remove old equipment and offered district discounts as part of the procurement. The board approved the CMAS contract and staff said they may invite board members to a vendor summit in June.
The procurement is part of the district's broader sustainability work (PaperCut printing-management software and printing nudges were also described) and is budgeted through existing technology refresh cycles.
