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Board approves cooperative purchasing resolution; staff outlines internet contract, leasing and E‑Rate challenges
Summary
The board approved a resolution to use cooperative purchasing contracts (Choice Partners, Allied States Cooperative) to speed procurement and leasing; staff described lost Chromebook leases, a steep local internet price increase and a plan to use a state mini‑bid at $1,150 per month per school, with counsel engaged to enforce remedies against a vendor.
The Lincoln County School Board approved a resolution authorizing use of pre‑bid cooperative purchasing agreements to expedite procurement and leasing, and board staff outlined recent disruptions to equipment leases and to the district’s internet service contract.
District staff explained that cooperative contracts such as Choice Partners and Allied States Cooperative (ESC) include pre‑bid leasing components that would let the district select leasing vendors more quickly. "It would allow me to choose a leasing company and then whatever we want to lease through that leasing company will be able to do," a district administrator said, describing the flexibility that cooperative contracts would provide and why staff recommended the resolution.
Board members approved the resolution by motion and second.
Staff also reported two procurement‑related problems affecting operations: the district lost a Chromebook lease with its prior vendor and said equipment availability has tightened, making leasing unaffordable in the current market. Separately, a long‑time internet provider was bought out, the local contract was terminated, and the district said the provider "quit paying their bills," prompting engagement of counsel (Mr. Kegel) to pursue remedies.
Given the local pricing that surfaced in a recently solicited multi‑year local bid (about $2,000 per month per school), staff said they will accept a state mini‑bid offering roughly $1,150 per month per school for one year and rebid for a multi‑year contract next year. Mr. Little, who handles the district’s E‑Rate filings, described E‑Rate as federal funding administered by the FCC and said program participation imposes extensive paperwork; he noted some districts hire consultants to handle filings at a substantial cost while he manages the work in‑house.
The board’s resolution is intended to make procurement faster by allowing staff to use existing cooperative contracts where appropriate; the district will ask the county commission to approve use of some cooperative contracts that require a local resolution and will proceed with interim internet service under the state mini‑bid while pursuing remedies for prior contract failures.
