Chief Technology officer Ramish Krishnamurthy immediately apologized and said, “It’s embarrassing that our contract expired without more knowledge.” He added quickly that a temporary contract had been renewed which allowed more toner to become available.
He also added that 80-90 new printers would be deployed to schools and that the district would be transitioning to more modern copiers in the near future. “We are in the process of transitioning to a comprehensive Managed Print Services solution, which will streamline the support, maintenance, and management of our print devices across all campuses,” Krishnamurthy said in an email to the Pantherette news.
The absence of toner might seem like a small inconvenience, but it exemplifies a larger issue: the need for teachers to be involved in conversations about school resources and operations. When teachers are not consulted or informed about such essentials, it disrupts their planning and affects the quality of education they can deliver.
Ms. Bruns, AP Economics teacher, shared her frustrations. “Not knowing when we have toner gives thought to what we need to actually print out,” she states. “The lack of timely communication and supply management forces teachers to constantly limit their printing needs, which can affect their ability to provide necessary materials to students.”
As of November 18, Xerox signed an additional contract extension, giving teachers immediate relief for now. Krishnamurthy also said that campuses can reach out to Xerox for assistance with equipment issues by calling 469-702-4070. When contacting Xerox the following information is needed: Equipment ID, The nature of the problem (i.e. jamming in the finisher, etc.) Location and Onsite Point of Contact Name and Email.
A timeline on new copiers was not provided by the Division of Technology other than the new Managed Print Services (MPS) solution is in the process of transition.
