Do i have to buy through my schools board

doomc23

Hi all and happy new year!
I recently took over as an I.T teacher in a controlled primary school in Belfast and I guess I want to know if I have to go through the board if I want to receive managed print services? I previously worked in a voluntary maintained primary school and I was free to purchase as long as I could show proof of savings. In this school we used a company called QLC Solutions who gave the school unlimited print through all of our print devices(which they provided at no capital cost to the school) at no cost per copy, and it was only a 30 day rolling agreement which we could print unlimited to for a set fee per month. Previously the school used a company called calverts which the lease of one mfp(excluding costly page per copy fees & a 5 year contract) was coming in around the same price as the complete solution was offered to me by the previous company. My question is, can I go ahead and get this implemented in my new school or do I have to go through the board in which I know I cant make savings for the school?


Hope to hear a bit of input soon.


Best Regards to all

System

Surely you should know whether you are allowed to buy in services without recourse to your superiors? Nobody on this board is going to what you are allowed to do. First port of call would be to speak to the head teacher and broach the subject.

Cherryscone

I am sure it is different in all Schools ..can you not talk to a fellow teacher from the same School if your unsure about approaching the Head

doomc23

I honestly am not and some teachers I have asked say that it is done when buying small items like stationary but when it comes to higher priced goods and services they are unsure if the board has to be used. I only put it on this in the hope that another teacher could clarify this for me.


Thanks again

Cherryscone

Hopefully one will come along and know what way it works as I'm am sure the Ea is Different here and works different than the rest of UK

System

doomc23 wrote: »

I honestly am not and some teachers I have asked say that it is done when buying small items like stationary but when it comes to higher priced goods and services they are unsure if the board has to be used. I only put it on this in the hope that another teacher could clarify this for me.


Thanks again

So the teachers are allowed to make small, ad-hoc purchases but are not sure of their spending limit

That is the first thing for you to find out. This can vary even between departments, let alone schools.

Once you have found that out then the next stage is to find out whether you have the authority or would be given the authority to commit the school to a contract, which is what you appear to want to set up.

That will be your sticking point. I doubt whether any board will allow a teacher, especially a new one in the school. to arbitrarily sign up the school to a contract without them having sight of and giving approval unless it is one of the senior teachers or head of department with some control over departmental budget.

happy_gardener

Can you not speak to your HOY to see what they can advice you. The principal would have the budget within the schools development plan. The Board Of Governors...the finance committee would gave an over view and would not be consulted on daily matters. It would definitely be frowned upon for a newly appointed teacher to spend....