At its Nov. 10 meeting, the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education approved a new contract with Graphic Enterprises Inc. (GEI) for a four-year lease for copy machines for the school district. The new contract, effective Dec. 1, will save the district approximately $103,775 per year over the previous contract with IKON, according to school officials.
The new contract offers more features with the copy machines, such as the ability to fax and scan documents. All the copiers will also be networked so that teachers can print directly from their classrooms.
According to school officials, the district averages approximately 8.5 million copies per year. In addition to the lease contract, by utilizing a new pilot program with the Stow Office Max, large print jobs will be completed off site. Large print jobs can be completed over night and delivered to the school the next morning. In addition the pilot program with Office Max will increase the quality of documents printed and will allow school staff members more time working with students rather than spending time at the copy machine.
"We expect to eventually phase out our desktop printers and fax machines which will also save the district money on toner and other maintenance," said Business Manager Thomas G. Adams.
"The GEI account executive who assisted in this lease for the district is a resident of Stow-Munroe Falls and has children attending our schools," said Adams. "She helped the district get a better deal and save the district tens of thousands of dollars. In addition, a resident of Stow who works for Office Max is spearheading the off-site printing program that is planned to save the district time and money."
Adams said that nine companies submitted proposals for the copier contract.