Part of the problem, said Aldridge, is the sprawling district's size. Ordering of supplies for the next school year began in February. Distribution starts next month, using food service vehicles and anything that rolls, Aldridge said. The financial chief put a freeze on buying vehicles, even though the district's delivery trucks often break down. You roll the dice.
Principals seek more latitude to order supplies for shipment directly to schools.
The process can take more than a week. So principals often raid discretionary funds they'd rather keep for emergencies, such as buying shoes for a pupil without an adequate pair. Aldridge acknowledged that direct-ordering would cut down on bureaucracy, but claimed it would reduce the district's ability to order supplies at bulk rates and would make purchasing harder to monitor. But even as it is, the money is not monitored very well, administrators admit. A computer system installed two years ago to track district spending has been a blessing and a burden.