Glendale-River Hills outsourcing tech services

Glendale - In a maneuver designed to cut costs, officials in the Glendale-River Hills School District have decided to outsource technology services - for the time being, at least. The decision comes following the resignation of an employee.

The School Board last week voted to accept the resignation request of Jeff Johnson, technology coordinator, effective Feb. 1. Johnson, who accepted a position in the private sector, has been employed by Glendale-River Hills nearly five years. Instead of hiring an employee in Johnson's place, the district is piloting a plan to look outside for the service.

Glendale-based River Run Computers will be handling the technology coordination tasks, which include addressing infrastructure problems as they arise, tackling ongoing maintenance with computers and other forms of technology and assisting with future initiatives. River Run's contract with the district, which expires June 30, totals $31,500.

District Administrator Larry Smalley said Glendale-River Hills stands to save about $20,000 for the remainder of the 2011-12 school year with the outsourcing. If it proves successful and the district continues looking outside for the service, Smalley said annual savings could hover between $45,000 and $50,000.

Prior to providing a recommendation to the School Board, Smalley said he and Jim Beckmann, director of operations, met with several technology consulting firms. Four of the firms submitted bids, and each was interviewed by members of the School Board's Buildings and Grounds Committee earlier this month.

- Dave Fidlin