Need Help Navigating our Site?

AEA Purchasing launched a new website in March of 2018. If you've yet to get the hang of where to find stuff, we created a recorded webinar to help you out!

To learn more about the ins and outs of our site, point your browser to our  “Useful Info” section and select "Get to Know Us Webinar" on the "Webinar" tab.

Partners You Need to Know (February 2019)

Bytespeed offers great savings on ByteSpeed branded computers as well as Juniper, Ruckus, Gravity and Oculus hardware.

Midwest Technology specializes in the resell of industrial arts, vocation and technology equipment for your curriculum needs. They also carry a wide range of STEM and STEAM kits!

Sico offers innovative furniture products designed to maximize space utilization.

West Interactive-SchoolMessenger is a trusted provider of K-12 communications solutions -- from notifications and websites to custom mobile apps and social media.

Technology Contracts: 101

If you're familiar with AEA Purchasing's technology program, then you are well aware of wide scope of products and services that we offer. If you're new, then we wouldn't be surprised if you found yourself overwhelmed without a clue of where to start! For these reasons, we've provided some highlights of the program to assist you in getting better acquainted with what we have to offer or to refresh your memory.

In addition to vendor catalog discounts, AEA Purchasing also does a specific line-item bid which we refer to as our "Statewide  Technology Buy”. Visit the linked page to view the items available as well as a tutorial on how to browse the online listings. PDF downloads are available for the major product categories for offline browsing. Many of the vendors participating in our buy are the same over the years but their awarded items fluctuate. Check this out before you order!

Digital Signage quotes can be obtained from Midwest Computer Products or CDW-G. Coast to Coast computer Products was awarded commercial LG televisions that also may be used for digital signage and the digital signage software comes free with purchase!

Many contracts include discounts off the vendor's entire catalog, including: CDW-G, MNJ Technologies, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Camcor, Midwest Computer Products, Lightspeed, PCMG, Scott Electric, ACCO Brands USA and Academic Superstore. ByteSpeed was awarded discounts on a few products too. Check each vendor’s profile page for details on products and how to get quotes and/or order.

• Software is currently available through CDW-G. 
• Web content filtering through iBoss
• Website content management through School Messenger (West Interactive)

A variety of digital resources are available through AEA Purchasing. For classroom curriculum/instructions resources, click here.  For resources geared more towards a school library, point your browser here.

Some of our newer offerings include partnerships with:

• Student News Net— connects the dots between literature, literacy and current events, including local Iowa stories, with primary source articles that engage students.
• Schoology— LMS that connects the people, content, and systems that fuel education.
•  Interactive touchscreen displays -- BenQ models through Midwest Computer Products and Boxlight ProColor models though Troxell Communications.

If all else fails and you need help...we are here! Let Laurie know and she'll be happy to assist!

New Interactive Touch Displays from Troxell and Midwest Computer Products!

New Interactive Touch Displays from Troxell and Midwest Computer Products!  

Troxell Communications has been awarded 65"and 75" Boxlight ProColor models. Midwest Computer Products has been awarded 65" and 75" BenQ models.

Click here for complete details from both vendor partners!

2019 Statewide Technology Buy

Contracts for AEA Purchasing's Statewide Technology Buy have been extended for 2019.

Commonly purchased items, all competitively bid at great low prices, are in effect through December 31, 2019.

Don’t forget there are also STEM/STEAM items as well as virtual reality products on this contract!

Navigating our technology contracts is a skill. Contact Laurie Hoing anytime with questions or for assistance!

Inspiring Lifelong Learners with Scholastic Literacy

Scholastic, a trusted leader in education for almost 100 years, is excited to introduce Scholastic Literacy, a comprehensive curriculum for Grades K–6 built on the best research into how children learn. At Scholastic, we believe that learning should be deeply engaging and authentic—designed to inspire lifelong intellectual curiosity and independent thinking.

Scholastic Literacy is the result of our longstanding partnerships with educators, families, and leading researchers. It utilizes a powerful framework for teaching essential reading and writing skills that students can apply throughout their academic careers and beyond.

Scholastic Literacy is highly customizable, with built-in options for teachers to tailor their lessons to their students’ needs. It offers numerous formal and informal opportunities to monitor students’ learning. Results from these assessments, as well as data from digital solutions, provide teachers with actionable data to inform instruction, identify areas of need for intervention or acceleration, and form small groups.

A powerful framework for teaching and learning is created through:

Unparalleled Access to Authentic and Culturally Relevant Texts: Scholastic Literacy offers authentic informational and literary texts by real authors with independent reading collections, e-books, read-clouds, mentor texts, and leveled bookrooms. Our unique classroom library reflects students’ interests, challenges, and real-life experiences while helping to foster the social-emotional skills that students will need to thrive in and out of the classroom.

Personalized and Adaptive Instruction Informed by Data: Interactive digital resources are designed to personalize instruction for foundational reading skills, comprehension, vocabulary, and word study. Educators have access to data for the metrics that matter most to inform and differentiate instruction.

Family Engagement: Scholastic Literacy provides families with essential information in English and Spanish that they can use to encourage and support their children’s literacy development.

Let’s work together to ensure that every young Iowan develops the literacy skills and critical thinking they’ll need to be lifelong independent thinkers, readers, and writers.

For more information, contact Jim Strayer, Scholastic Account Executive or Ann Dixon, Scholastic Educational Resource Specialist.

Check out 'The Mailbox' Resource from Infobase!

It’s hard to think of a teacher who doesn't wish for more minutes (hours?) per day. The editors at The Mailbox know all about that wish. You see, each editor is a former classroom teacher! This unique behind-the-scenes combination of teacher knowledge and experience is a bit like having a recipe for a secret burger sauce! Of course, The Mailbox School & District isn’t known for its burgers, it’s known for its top-notch educational tools and resources. Or in the words of one educator, it’s “a teacher’s wish come true!”

So what was does The Mailbox School & District provide for teachers? It’s a lengthy list! Here are a few highlights:

• Unlimited access to over 52,000 searchable teaching activities, worksheets, crafts, forms, and more for Pre-K through grade 6
• New digital editions of The Mailbox Magazine for Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grades 2-3 and Intermediate teachers added every month
• A unique Lesson Plan Builder for quickly creating and saving your lesson plans
• Easy-to-use tools for organizing, storing, and printing your favorite ideas
• Programmable newsletters, calendars, flashcards, bingo boards, name tags, and more

There are no limits on printing and no pesky ads!

If you’d like to have free access to this teacher’s wish come true, contact Frank Visco with Infobase at FVisco@Infobase.com or (973) 477-4997.

Free trials are available!

Happy Saving in 2019!

AEA Purchasing values our members and our primary goal is to save schools time and money. We have competitively bid many products and services, achieving excellent pricing on many commodities. We encourage you to check with us before you ever order anything! If we don’t have it, maybe we should!

It’s important that the AEA Purchasing contract numbers be referenced on all orders to obtain our contract pricing. Reference numbers for each vendor's contract are listed on their profile page on our website.

Visit our Vendor Partner page  to see awarded vendors, awarded products and how to order.

Here’s to a fantastic year of savings!

We Are Your Certified Purchasing Partner!

Did you know that AEA Purchasing employs certified purchasing staff?

"CPPB" is the acronym for Certified Professional Public Buyer and is recognized throughout the world. These four letters signify that an individual has demonstrated a specific level of education and experience  necessary to competently perform the work of a public procurement officer or buyer.

To become certified, one must demonstrate knowledge (via an exam) in the areas of procurement administration, sourcing, negotiation, contract administration, supply management and procurement planning. One must also have some experience working in procurement in the public sector and post high school graduate coursework.

Meeting the CPPB requirements is AEA Purchasing’s own Laurie Hoing! Laurie obtained her certification in 2008 and continues to meet the re-certification requirements every five years.  Her current certificate expires November 26, 2023. While not yet certified, Joni Puffett, another AEA Purchasing coordinator, has just begun her coursework in obtaining CPPB certification as well.

Aside from our motto of “save on purchases, spend on students”, a goal of AEA Purchasing's is to assure that Iowa K-12 schools are in compliance with the Iowa Code regarding procurement and are also adhering to the procurement profession’s best practices. With certified purchasing staff, you can be sure we are a resource to trust as every effort has been made to comply with professional standards, a code of ethics, as well as the Iowa Code regarding procurement.

To learn more about the CPPB designation and it is beneficial, check out this page: https://www.uppcc.org/.

3 Partners You Need to Know (January)

CDWG  CDWG provides a catalog discount pricing on technology products, hardware, software, etc.

Britannica Digital Learning In addition to what is provided via Iowa AEA Online, through AEA Purchasing, Britannica Digital Learning is offering discounts on other supplemental products to help build your digital resource library. Through our partnership,​Britannica also offers savings on popular eBook titles for children and adults.

School Specialty School Specialty carries a wide array of school essentials, furniture and technology from well-known brands as well as popular proprietary brands.

Mark Your Calendars! (January 2019)

Don't miss these upcoming events from AEA Purchasing!

January 11, 2019: Winter Paper Orders are Due!
Don't forget to turn in your orders for our winter paper buy. All orders need to be received by The Paper Corporation no later than January 11, 2019. Visit our website for more information.

January 15, 2019: Athletics & PE Webinar
9:00am -- 12:00pm   Zoom with us from the comfort of your office and learn more about our Athletics & PE purchasing program. Vendors presenting include Sportime (School Specialty), Daktronics and Schutt Sports. Email Joni for more information!

January 31, 2019: ISAC Exhibit
AEA Purchasing will be exhibiting at the ISAC Statewide Supervisors meeting in Des Moines.

Save Money on Special Education Resources!

Save the Date! Athletics & PE Webinar

Save the Date!

Join us on January 15th, 2019

Mark your calendar and make time to join us for our first ever Athletics & PE webinar! Spend the morning with AEA Purchasing and participating vendor partners to learn more about contract opportunities and ways to save on your next athletics and PE program purchases.

For more information and/or to register for the webinar (Zoom), email Joni Puffett.