School board approves new copier contract
By Karen Gleason
Del Rio News-Herald
Published January 14, 2008
A new copier contract may save the local public school district nearly three-quarters of a million dollars over the next four years.
Five members of the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District (SFDRCISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new contract during a special meeting Thursday.
Miguel “Mike” Salinas, SFDRCISD executive director of operations and facilities, presented the only item on the special meeting agenda: to award a contract for photocopier leases and rentals to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Buy Board.
Salinas told the board that the current school district photocopier contract expires Jan. 31.
He said for the last five years the district has had a contract with Xerox Corp. for a total of 83 copiers throughout the school district.
Salinas said that total includes 57 low-volume, seven mid-volume and 19 high-volume copiers.
Salinas said that contract currently costs the district $474,278.76.
Salinas then reviewed the administration’s recommendation for a new copier contract, which he said prior to the meeting had been arrived at following months of research.
In a letter also presented to the board during the special meeting, Salinas wrote, “After the administration carefully reviewed all of the information provided by all three vendors, it has been determined that the best value for the district, to replace our current copier fleet, is the 48 month- TASB Buy Board #231-05 Government Lease, through Office Communication Systems Inc.; at an approximate cost of $289,344.12 per year. This would be a district savings of (about) $184,934.64 per year and a savings of $739,738.56 over the four-year term; for all new machines, with higher copy allowances and lower per copy overage charges.”
School board trustee Dr. Fernando Quiz asked if the new copy machines were user-friendly.
Salinas said that the district would hold two new copy machines at its warehouse to use as replacements for copiers that break down or need repairs.
He also told the board that the recommended vendor also has promised a four-hour response to repair calls.
“I think it sounds excellent,” noted school board trustee Pam Smith.
The board members present for the special meeting then unanimously approved the administration’s recommendation for the new copier contract.
Absent from Thursday’s special meeting were Raymond Meza and Edith Treviño.
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