Article 1. Apparatus And Supplies of California Education Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 23. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.

The county board of education shall on or before the first day of February of each year establish rules and regulations under which any school district in the county shall, except as provided in Section 40002, purchase standard school supplies and equipment through the county superintendent of schools, or when so directed by him or her, through a county purchasing agent. When the county superintendent of schools purchases standard school supplies without directing their purchase through the county purchasing agent or other county, city, or school district agent or agency, he or she shall make such purchase from the lowest responsible bidder who shall give such security as the county superintendent of schools requires, or else reject all bids. For the purpose of securing bids, the county superintendent of schools shall publish at least once a week for two weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county, a notice calling for bids stating where the list and specifications of standard school supplies and equipment to be furnished may be obtained and the time when, and the place where bids will be opened. The county board of education shall list as standard school supplies and equipment such supplies and equipment as can be advantageously purchased in quantity. The list of standard school supplies shall be accompanied by a table of specifications giving the minimum grade, quality, substance, or other standard required for the purchase of each item listed. The cost of advertising for bids and the cost of preparation of a table of specifications shall be paid from the county general fund. The provisions of this section shall not apply to counties of the first or second class containing no more than three districts with an average daily attendance of less than 2,500.

The governing board of each school district shall, except as otherwise provided in this code, purchase school furniture, including musical instruments, and apparatus, and such other articles as are necessary for the use of schools, and may, in its discretion, purchase uniforms and other regalia for the use of school bands, orchestras and choirs, and including uniforms and equipment necessary for the use of athletic teams. The provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 4 of Division 5 of Title 1 of the Government Code shall not apply to the purchase of musical instruments made pursuant to this section. Any such articles purchased shall always remain the property of the school district purchasing them. Only such books, apparatus, uniforms, and equipment shall be purchased by the governing board of an elementary school district, if the board is not a city board of education, as have been adopted by the county board of education having jurisdiction over the district.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the governing board of any school district may purchase any necessary school supplies and equipment, including standard school supplies and equipment listed by the county board of education, in the manner provided in this chapter, or the governing board of any school district may purchase such supplies and equipment directly from the vendor. Such direct purchase may be as a single district or two or more districts acting as a cooperative.
  (b) An elementary school district having an average daily attendance of less than 2,500 during the preceding fiscal year may purchase standard school supplies and equipment directly from a vendor only by means of a purchasing cooperative representing a total average daily attendance in excess of 2,500 and then only if the county superintendent of schools has on file a document certifying the school district's membership in such a cooperative.

The clerk of each district shall, under the direction of the board of trustees, provide all school supplies authorized by this chapter.

The cost of maintaining schoolbuses may be paid out of any funds of the district except funds derived from the sale of bonds and funds required by law to be set aside for teachers' salaries.

The superintendent of schools of each county may transfer at the beginning of any school year from the funds of the school districts of the county which elect to purchase equipment and supplies in accordance with Section 38110, to the school supply revolving fund, which fund is continued in existence, a sum not to exceed 10 percent of the amount to be received during the school year by each district from the State School Fund.

If in any county a school supply revolving fund is not established, payment for school supplies and equipment purchased through the county superintendent of schools or through the county purchasing agent shall be made by order of the governing board of the school district purchasing them, in the same manner as other payments are made from school district funds.

The governing board of each school district throughout the state shall provide for each schoolhouse under its control, a suitable Flag of the United States, which shall be hoisted above each schoolhouse during all school sessions and on school holidays, weather permitting. The governing board of each school district shall provide smaller and suitable United States Flags to be displayed in each schoolroom at all times during the school sessions. The governing board of each school district shall enforce this section.

Writing and drawing paper, pens, inks, blackboards, blackboard erasers, crayons, lead pencils, and other necessary supplies for the use of the schools, shall be furnished under direction of the governing boards of the school districts.

The governing board of a school district may rent or lease personal property needed for district purposes, including the renting or leasing of caps and gowns for seniors who participate in high school graduation ceremonies.

The governing board of any school district may lend school band instruments, music, uniforms, and other regalia to persons who are or have been, during the prior school year, members of the school band for use by them on excursions to foreign countries whether or not such an excursion is sanctioned by the governing board. The governing board may require the borrower to make a deposit or take other measures to insure that the items borrowed will be returned in usable condition.