HOT SPRINGS – A lengthy agenda gave way to substantial discussion regarding a copier lease contract, at the June 6 meeting of the Hot Springs School Board.
The school board issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) earlier this spring, and received quotes from two different businesses – Century Business Products and A&E Business, for a three-year lease of copiers, maintenance and training in the school’s elementary, middle and high schools, as well as the Administration Building.
A&E Business submitted two lease proposals, one for Toshiba products and another for Ricoh, while Century sent in a proposal for Kyocera copiers. Kelsie Dietrich of A&E and Steve Cogdill of Century were at the meeting, to tout their respective proposals and answer any questions.
The Toshiba proposal from A&E is for $1,927.25 per month while the Kyocera proposal from Century was for $2,415.04 per month. The administration had recommended approving a contract for Century Business Products, based on breakdown problems with the Toshiba copies that the school now uses, on a lease with A&B, along with a lack of training and a shortage of expected features, such as a color scanner.
Superintendent Danielle Root and Business Manager Lori Libra noted that as technology products are permitted to go the RFP route rather than bid, the district is free to choose the higher cost item, if the belief is that it is in the school’s best interest.
Both representatives made their case, but ultimately the board agreed to table the matter to a later meeting, to investigate costs on a more complete basis.