Page 7 - AASBO EDGE Fall 2021 WEB

AWW GEE WHIZ! So in my next article, I will review ALL the procurement
it went backwards. Funding has always been Cotton Center Blvd., Phoenix. I also am pleased
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 exemptions, including those approved in the revision to the
a struggle. What I hope is not a certainty is to confirm that the Spring Conference will once
State Board of Education School District Procurement Rules in
that Arizona will always be 49th in per-pupil again be held in Laughlin, Nevada, on April
detail and give some great best practice recommendations to
6-8. And following up on last year’s successful
spending.
with the cumulative requirements for written quotes if over make all your procurement dreams come true.
in-person annual Summer Conference and
$10,000 and do a formal procurement if the amount exceeds Have a great school year and don’t hesitate to reach out to
$100,000. me with any procurement questions you may have. We are all
Expo, we will return to the J.W. Marriott Starr
“We’ve had to adjust – and adjust
OK, so here is the cli hanger. e State Board of Education in this together!

we did.”
at the time of the writing of this article is currently undergoing Pass Resort and Spa in Tucson on July 20-23.
rules revisions that will make our lives easier. ese changes Bill Munch, CPPO, CPPB is the Procurement Compliance and

While virtual conferences allowed us to

have come at the recommendation of some very learned Training Of cer for Valley Schools Management Group, recipient
I truly believe that these unforeseen challenges
continue to provide AASBO members with
school district procurement folks who are also members of of the 2018 AASBO Bill Lovett Award and the 2016 NIGP National
result in the positive things we do every day
our own AASBO organization. Among these changes will be Purchasing Manager of the Year. He provides consultation on
an array of educational opportunities during
some proposed clari cations to the exemptions discussed public procurement matters for school districts and vendors across

– how school business officials came together
the height of the pandemic, let’s hope that we
above and some appropriate and much-needed additional the state of Arizona and across the country. He may be reached at:
to provide our students with a safe, learning
never have to resort to them again.
exemptions. bmunch@vsit.org.
environment and healthy meals.
We all should be very aware that the procurement rules apply to all
Here’s one more certainty: Thanksgiving is a
I want to take this opportunity to commend
purchases of materials, services and construction and therefore the procurement
few weeks away. We have a lot to be thankful
AASBO members who are diligently making
for, especially how good things are when

thresholds apply to all purchases. There are exceptions, but they are specifically listed
final arrangements for the Vendor/Buyer
we are able to come together to defeat tough
in the procurement rules. If your proposed purchase is not listed in the exceptions,
Conference on January 25. It will be an
challenges and be better prepared for those
in-person event, as will the Winter Conference nasty uncertainties.
you must follow the procurement thresholds for quotes and bids.
on January 26. Both conferences will be held at
the Desert Willow Conference Center, 4340 E.

THERE’S POWER IN THE
Partnership

National IPA and U.S. Communities are now OMNIA Partners, Public Sector – the nation’s
largest cooperative purchasing organization.
Together we connect thousands of educational institutions and public agencies for combined
purchasing power. All contracts available through OMNIA Partners are competitively solicited
and awarded by a lead public agency.

VIEW OUR EXPANDED CONTRACT PORTFOLIO AT omniapartners.com/publicsector

POWER. ACCESS. TRUST.

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32 THE EDGE | BACK TO SCHOOL 2019