28: Simplifying School Procurement

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Casselli, President of BuyQ, to discuss how group purchasing can help schools—especially smaller charter and private schools—stretch their dollars, streamline operations, and build stronger procurement systems. Drawing from his background in education, edtech, and operations, Daniel offers a masterclass in purchasing strategy, explaining how schools can leverage collective buying power, avoid common pitfalls, and set up procurement systems that actually work. Whether you're new to procurement or trying to bring more strategy to your school's purchasing processes, Daniel shares actionable insights that can save you time, money, and administrative headaches. Key Takeaways: Group purchasing helps smaller schools access pricing and vendor support typically reserved for large networks. BuyQ negotiates national contracts that reduce costs, improve compliance, and save time by eliminating the need for individual RFPs. Schools should prioritize clarity in procurement ownership, better alignment between budgeting and purchasing, and modernized systems to avoid capacity drain. Strong procurement policies and procedures must be realistic, clearly communicated, and consistently followed. Procurement is not just about savings—it's about improving the student and staff experience through intentional purchasing decisions. Connect with Daniel Casselli: LinkedIn: Daniel Casselli (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-casselli-31a7b910b/) BuyQ Website: www.buyq.org Free Consultation: https://buyq.org/free-consultation BuyQ Contracts Portfolio: Sign up here (https://www.buyq.org) Podcast: Charter School Insider (available on all major platforms) CheckBox Pro – Learn more about the services CheckBox Pro offers to make the work of school leaders more sustainable. Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ