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Time and Money Savers
U.S. Communities provides a national purchasing forum for local and state government agencies, school districts (K-12), higher education and non-profits nationwide by pooling the purchasing power of over 87,000 public agencies. This purchasing power enables participants to save money on office supplies, machines, school supplies and furniture, technology products and solutions, electrical and telecomm services, janitorial supplies, carpet and flooring, park and playground equipment, physical education supplies, maintenance and hardware supplies, homeland security and public safety, roofing supplies and services, and auto parts and accessories. The process is simple:- Register with U.S. Communities (no cost - no obligation) so district personnel can access the U.S. Communities Web site where vendors, products and prices are available for review. Registration with U.S. Communities (online at www.uscommunities.org) is to ensure that your school district is provided the Master Intergovernmental Co-Operative Purchasing Agreement. This is necessary for your records and audit. Registration does not obligate you to purchase through the program, but introduces you to a wide range of quality products at outstanding prices.
- Compare the U.S. Communities contracts with the contracts your district currently has in place.
- Go online to request contact from a U.S. Communities vendor and a representative will contact you to review their offering and bid prices.
- Decide to execute an order with the U.S. Communities supplier of your choice or not.
For more information, or to set up a presentation in your district, contact Erin Kinch, 517.327.5935, ekinch@masb.org. Not sure if you're allowed to join in cooperative purchasing agreements such as this? Click here to download a sample policy authorizing cooperative purchasing agreements for adoption by your district.
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BoardBook solves a challenge facing your district and every district--how to manage the paper devoted to board meeting agenda packets. Perhaps you've looked at other electronic solutions and been stymied by the special purchases required: a new server, a dedicated Internet connection, hard-to-learn software. With BoardBook, you'll face none of that. BoardBook is an electronic agenda-preparation tool that you access through your Web browser. Exclusively sponsored by MASB, with BoardBook you can be up and running in just two short hours. Imagine having on your desktop, right now everything you need to prepare, publish, distribute and use the agenda packets electronically. One quick login and you have everything you need, whether you're a superintendent secretary compiling the packet, or a board member reviewing one for an upcoming meeting. Whether you're a district administrator preparing for a meeting or a member of the public examining the packet on the Web, you'll be impressed. It's easy to learn and easy to use. Feeling hopeful? Good! Call Erin Kinch, MASB's Director of Marketing, 517.327.5935 or ekinch@masb.org to find out more about how BoardBook can help you and your district save time, money and hassle!
PaySchools is an online payment processing system that provides schools with an easy and efficient method to collect fees and receive electronic payments for school lunches, field trips, registration, prom tickets, T-shirts and any other school-related fees. PaySchools makes it possible for all schools to offer parents the convenience of online purchasing without incurring large administration or setup costs. Parents access PaySchools through a link on the home page of their school district's Web site. They select the items they want to purchase and then pay for them using credit cards or electronic checks. Payments are automatically processed and the money is transferred to the school's local bank account(s). PaySchools was created by the Iowa Association of School Boards, and local school district personnel, in partnership with Information Services USA, a leader in development of school related technology solutions and is offered to Michigan public schools through join sponsorship of MASB, MASA and MSBO. For more information, contact Erin Kinch, 517.327.5935, ekinch@masb.org. Click here to download a brief presentation about the benefits of PaySchools.
MISEC was established in 1997 by MASB, MASA, MAISA, the Middle Cities Education Association and MSBO as a joint venture to take full advantage of cost-saving opportunities provided by energy deregulation. The goal to establish a cooperative buying group, which by virtue of its size, will be a force in the wholesale market both for gas and electricity, is being accomplished. In the 2003 calendar year, MISEC saved approximately $8 million on $45 million of electric services for over 125 school districts. For further information, contact Ray Telman at 517.347.7070 or fax 517.347.7727.
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