All purchases shall be by purchase order processed through the school office.

The District Administrator shall be the contracting agent for all financial obligations.

The Bookkeeper shall be responsible for encumbering the funds as soon as the purchase order has been issued.

A verbal financial commitment may be made only for emergencies or when it is impossible or impractical to precede the purchase with a purchase order. Before such a commitment is made, the District Administrator shall be contacted for prior approval and for a purchase order number. In all such cases, a purchase order shall be issued as soon as possible after the commitment is made.

Employees are forbidden to use the name of the District, any discounts provided the District, or any other means for associating a personal purchase with the District. They are to make clear to any District supplier from whom they are purchasing an item that it is a personal purchase by the employee and is not associated with the District. Failure to abide by this provision could lead to disciplinary action.

Confirming purchase orders will be honored only in cases cited in the above paragraph.

Ongoing commitments such as service contracts and leases should be renewed annually, in writing, at the renewal date.

Purchases of contracted services shall be negotiated either verbally, by a Request for Proposal, or through the bid process, as determined by the District Administrator. Such services that cost more than $15,000 require the approval of the Board.

The District Administrator will determine the most appropriate method of obtaining prices for items or groups of items which are not subject to formal bidding procedures.

Quotes will be requested for any item or group of items in a single transaction costing between $5,000 and $15,000.