Since we have no mechanism for comparison, we often have a hard time showing schools why the use of districtwide contracts would be cost-effective for them. Individual schools are required only to use citywide contracts for the purchase of administrative PCs. Although the schools' use of a central service agreement is optional, the success of those programs depends on volume buying. I recognize that there is a value in having principals take responsibility for their own budgets and technology decisions. But it tends to cost us a lot of money.
All costs are annual.