Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Cost Reductions Earn Honors From National Purchasing Alliance

Arthur Hanby
Arthur Hanby

San Diego Unified School District and its strategic sourcing and contracts officer, Arthur Hanby, were recently recognized by the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance for their contributions to the organization’s advisory board.

A cooperative of more than 44,000 local governments, school districts and nonprofit corporations, the Alliance combines the purchasing power of its members to negotiate lower costs for supply and service contracts.

“We saved $200,000 last year on frozen food and groceries for the district’s feeding program because of a nationwide cooperative contract,” Hanby said. “Combining our purchasing power reduces how we spend taxpayer dollars in certain areas so that there’s more money for classroom instruction and school support.”

The district’s Strategic Sourcing and Contracts Office has also used cooperative agreements to reduce the costs of classroom furniture and office supplies, Hanby said.

“The program benefits the schools and departments of the San Diego Unified School District, as well as thousands of other K-12 and public sector organizations throughout the nation,” said Philip Stover, deputy superintendent of business. “It has been our pleasure to support and participate in this important body.”
Hanby accepted a plaque commemorating the honor at the U.S. Communities annual meeting, held January in La Jolla.

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, a founding sponsor of the Alliance, first appointed Hanby to the advisory board in 2002, when he was the deputy chief contracting officer and executive director of Detroit Public Schools. After arriving at San Diego Unified in 2005, the California School Boards Association and the California Association of School Business Officials selected him as their representative, with reappointments in 2007 and 2010.