FAQ's - Outsourcing 101

Why do school district’s Boards of Education contract their technology out?

Answer: School districts and boards who contract with VARtek often realize substantial quality of service benefits including faster response to end user requests, more professional management, newer equipment, stable networks and a stream of constant innovation being implemented. In addition, many schools realize a cost savings by outsourcing.

Will we lose control over our technology operations?

Answer: District leaders never lose control. Rather, bringing in outside expertise can help them; plan better, use resources more efficiently, reduce risk, inspire innovation, and develop a more satisfied technology end user.


Can a for-profit company do a better job than our school district?

Answer: Experienced companies have developed best practices for innovative programs, people management expertise, operational efficiencies, and purchasing leverage not often realized by individual districts. While the most successful external partners invest themselves in their schools and communities, they also offer a wealth of resources that school districts may not have readily available, including experts from areas like senior network engineering, instructional technology trainers and fiscal management.

Will our employees lose their jobs or be offered positions with much lower salaries and minimal benefits?

Answer: Outsourcing companies offer various management models including designing solutions where schools retain some or all of their existing staff (based on board recommendation) with some being reassigned to other inter school priorities. In some cases (based on board recommendation) employees are hired by the outsourcing company at competitive wages and benefits. 

Does outsourcing only benefit the bottom line?

Answer: In addition to helping control costs, outsourcing can engage and empower district employees, enhance the quality of education by providing more advanced and stable technology platforms that allow for a greater educational opportunity for students and a more productive environment for teachers and staff.

How can outsourcing benefit the community?

Answer: The long-term commitment of outsourcing partners to school districts and communities can take many creative forms that enhance the community’s spirit and contribute to the quality of life of it’s residents. Some examples include allowing home access to students and teachers so that a schools can extend the learning experience. Many staff that work for an outside firm are typically from the school community.

How can a for-profit company, such as VARtek provide a more cost efficient solution than a school using only in-house resources?

Answer: Over the past 21 plus years VARtek has honed its process to deliver an efficient network structure versus a school that has individuals design their own solution.  It’s similar to why a school wouldn’t try to program a piece of software versus purchasing a pre-built and pre-tested application used by many districts to successfully accomplish the same thing. VARtek also has more powerful purchasing leverage versus an individual district. 

Does outsourced technology service need to be competitively bid?

Answer: Whether contracted technology service requires a competitive bidding process varies from state to state.  However for many states including Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania a competitive bid is not required. 

Can VARtek reduce our costs and still earn a profit?

Answer: Through economies of scale, leveraging a variety of technical skills sets on an as-needed basis, and constant integration of technology management innovations VARtek can reduce technology costs and still remain profitable. VARtek manages our operations with the same enthusiasm and care with which your district educates students.

For more information, please contact us!