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Boston schools overpay for some books, review finds

State watchdog calls for changes

By James Vaznis

 |  Globe Staff  

  April 10, 2012

The Boston School Department has routinely skirted state bidding laws in buying textbooks, novels, and other books, potentially spending hundreds of thousands of dollars more than it had to, according to an investigation by the state Inspector General’s Office. In many instances, the department paid more for novels, plays, and other literary works than what members of the general public would spend when they buy books on the websites of national retailers, the inquiry found.

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