Board approves policy on awarding service contracts

May 18, 2005|by KAREN HANNA

A new policy will require Washington County Public Schools to begin considering quality of service, not just lowest price, in awarding contracts to outside bidders.

The Board of Education voted Tuesday on the second reading of a policy dealing with professional service contracts.

The policy requires any contracted professional service costing $50,000 or more in one year be brought before the board for approval.

Board members Roxanne Ober and Wayne Ridenour voted against the policy.

Ober questioned why the board's approval is not required for contracts costing less than $50,000.

"I just disagree with the threshold of $50,000, and I don't see where the quality control is on this," Ober said.

Ridenour agreed.

"Sometimes, it's the small things that get people's attention," he said. "Sometimes, it's the $10,000 contract."

Ridenour said the board is put in a position of answering for services "after the fact."

"I have a real problem," Ridenour said. "I would like to know up front, sometimes, what's going on, what we're spending our money on."

School system Chief Operating Officer William Blum said the process for awarding contracts includes controls and comes down to the expertise of staff members the school board has hired.

"It's very difficult to have board approval on every decision that's done," Blum said. "That's why we're here."

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