[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6271820,"mediaKeyId","3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676","parentId",3028575,"title","Board approves contracts, appointments and budget‑related items; Red Rover, Embrace, E‑Rate technology purchases pass","audioSeconds",5789,"startMs",547000,"endMs",6336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676&start=547&end=6336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676/thumbnail_547000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6271820/Illinois/Board-approves-contracts-appointments-and-budgetrelated-items-Red-Rover-Embrace-ERate-technology-purchases-pass","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271820-4a38c0b7c2dd52d72a69c61b7bacf065/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195375&Signature=fZxrcgezd-nc9R6Et8WiB79~M8Ql2TTTxenkOIuEhl3jHSCK5hr6V33slb4XwykFl8yVoL365kacjciCAuljKvjReXs8uZ03BawPD4EXJCE9UsiXLhr2oprWpAEFbvh4Lvyq~FK0uQza~snVUGqFigLMJnqEuthwFFtf93dGr1kujlGfoakm0VJI1KfTqTYYCUomp5tEy6ioMFKIR1Hb1fBqVEWLrzG8p0djwQtyKubmf5kbSkvc-Ng-MGpAv~GrSre4pAannqFr9q6CGi7dFWGlWpxX3MOAMTCIxBC6PuhCdXm6Lm~F8AU6U2kq~cJul0~eLcCv3MNHAj7i1EtfBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Round Lake CUSD 116","date","2025-04-17T00:38:01.107Z","article","The Round Lake Area Schools CUSD 116 Board of Education approved a series of motions on April 14 covering vendor contracts, staffing changes, technology purchases through the federal E‑Rate program and administrative appointments. Below are the outcomes and key details recorded in the public meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda that included an accounts payable report for $1,575,808.97 and the April 14, 2025 employment report. Motion carried by roll call.

- Red Rover Technologies LLC contract: The board approved a contract for human‑resources/time‑and‑attendance services with Red Rover Technologies LLC for $64,970. The district expects a phased implementation: time tracking and absence management to go live after the summer shutdown (district training targeted for early July), hiring module to be phased in October 1 to avoid the summer mass‑hiring season, and a July 16 live training for substitutes. Motion passed by roll call.

- Staffing and position control changes (FY 2025–26): The board approved staffing and position control changes for the 2025–26 school year that the district presented to finance (these include new behavioral analyst positions, behavioral interventionists, a transition‑center placement coordinator and a director of finance position). Motion carried by roll call.

- Embrace (Brex Database Solutions LLC d/b/a Embrace) Medicaid billing contract: The board approved a contract for Medicaid fee‑for‑service billing and reimbursement services in an amount reported as $75,000 (budgeted in district funds and described as cost neutral relative to the current vendor). Motion carried by roll call.

- E‑Rate technology purchases and service agreements: The board approved multiple E‑Rate–eligible technology items, each with board discussion at finance: Comcast Internet service for the Welcome Center (district portion reported in discussion; board motion carried), Palo Alto firewall and subscription licenses via CDW (vendor total reported $197,472.76, estimated district cost quoted in meeting $29,621 after an 85% E‑Rate reimbursement), AT&T Mobility bus Wi‑Fi for the district’s fleet (monthly vendor cost reported $1,589.47; estimated district amount after 90% reimbursement reported in the motion package as $1,907.40 for the year), and a network equipment and closet reorganization and wireless upgrades (22 Vets) for athletic field coverage (vendor total reported $77,910.64; estimated district cost $11,686.60 after 85% reimbursement). All motions passed by roll call.

- Minutes and meeting approvals: The board approved multiple meeting minutes (regular and special meetings), with two abstentions recorded on one special meeting minutes vote (each abstention was noted in the roll call on that motion). Motions carried.

- Appointments and bonds: The board approved administrative appointments for fiscal year roles (treasurer, chief investment officer, FY27 budget officer/preparer) and authorized execution of requisite documents and surety bonds; motions carried by roll call.

Other votes: The board approved overnight and out‑of‑district trip requests for athletic and co‑curricular groups and accepted committee updates and routine reports.

Roll call and voting notes: Roll calls were conducted on each motion and recorded in the meeting transcript. A small number of abstentions occurred on a special‑meeting minutes motion; the remainder of the votes recorded in the public roll calls were affirmative, and each motion reported above carried.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/14/2025 RLAS#116 Board of Education","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 14 meeting the Round Lake CUSD 116 Board of Education approved a package of vendor contracts, staffing and administrative appointments, and several E‑Rate technology purchases. The board also approved routine minutes and trip requests.","taxTitle","Round Lake CUSD 116, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",38548,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6271823,"Board hears new SOP after confusion over sale/donation of old jerseys; technology recycling SOP also formalized",823,4305000,5128000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676&start=4305&end=5128","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676/thumbnail_4305000.jpg","/articles/6271823/Illinois/Board-hears-new-SOP-after-confusion-over-saledonation-of-old-jerseys-technology-recycling-SOP-also-formalized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271823-10f496938695f4050c4673a5aef2d148/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195375&Signature=g45jKt49qMLxVwUiVHDipmu0FkgY32o0CXgDb8JPRWhz-ceLFIgYpkE4b4nM-FunAyynGz0nTA0FOYXz60ZdPgnh5mqRC3zq3v7xx-RL1DW019-cHt4oNtT1DddtasrMEebLM2zaTEmgIAdYfs1zv-9atC7~Z3K9HHPD~~AXtARnJClUSBcR6b-Jp2mVYyo-UA-LaGJueTvFRNLA7Jjm7QuTEQC7noUJxF~8I6pcR5vdEIIDeyJCjA-tJanltDj78NVNL-XaLMWzTqq3s10fvt1~oFVa~MuisN8~ChZi65DDCvZorvszQkhYN5qn9vtPuk6rq91kOVsU4nkdKqfdCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Administration told the board that staff discovered 50 older football jerseys (25 home, 25 away) and that a recent local attempt to distribute those jerseys had been handled as a suggested donation rather than as a formal sale, creating uncertainty about the correct process.

The presentation explained the district’s clarified approach: items will be handled in one of three explicit tracks (sale, recycle, discard). Administration said that offering an item “for a suggested donation” created a gray area and that if money is requested the transaction must be treated as a sale under district rules. The director said the district has moved the existing guidance into a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), added inventory steps, and included two bold clarifications: staff must not post or solicit sales until the board has been notified the sale is coming, and a donation cannot be framed as a conditional payment (“I’ll give it to you if you give me $30”).

Board members pressed for communication protocols so staff will know to ask administration when situations appear ambiguous. The director said the SOP will be posted in the district SOP repository and shared via principals’ agendas and regular communication. The technology department reported parallel work: a formal SOP for disposal and recycling of obsolete technology items was completed and will be used to evaluate whether devices have residual value (in which case they may be sold to vendors, staff or students) or are fully obsolete and should be recycled.

Administration said the technology SOP had been developed with recent inventory reconciliation work and named Samantha Chapman as a key contributor to that effort. The board agreed administration should circulate the new SOPs broadly and remind staff to seek clarification when in doubt.","Administration presented a new standard operating procedure clarifying disposal, recycling and sale of district property after a recent incident where old football jerseys were offered as a suggested donation. Technology disposal/recycling SOPs were also formalized and will be shared with principals.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6271827,"District reports BloomBoard cohort progress; 32 staff remain in ESL pathway, district covers tuition up front",1217,3034000,4251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676&start=3034&end=4251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676/thumbnail_3034000.jpg","/articles/6271827/Illinois/District-reports-BloomBoard-cohort-progress-32-staff-remain-in-ESL-pathway-district-covers-tuition-up-front","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271827-a7bb9c1a9832d9b7be4a2108369ca01a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195375&Signature=Vli~qU76SHu1eRe06UPvLCtK9NFNlt-HZn2lVhn8AQvbLAlzST5kDn-H8ap3nZiwMsJzoNcu45LR79S9fiCu0sgdB4xiYObuZm5n~O370Od3aqHF6wEKAgN0gUDz9RtW-U5PURuUDg7JxjXrdVlp5ebYKz03XLoP4qxBQuL2sysy0HcLf1QU6~DYCCv0vQcqZBvFuSLWe8RFekUosYJgOOtI9VY1WIDSs~HXed~LYeuXW-ZKKhXfvVo82lJIl0es3EYkLWMjlcOzsNcH-a-YUW0DkmBwQEhn0HMmTVMAedgWOI6vAKgo52FJwbWJVZCbRshOGSo6kLhCrqTYJShOmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A district presenter provided a status update on the district’s cohort using BloomBoard (reported in the meeting as “BloomBoard” and at times spoken as “Bloomberg”), a vendored program that the district used this school year to support staff in earning English‑learner (ESL) and special education endorsements. The presenter said 36 staff began the program; two withdrew during the fall semester and the cohort stabilised at 32 staff pursuing an ESL endorsement. Of those, seven have already completed all required credits and are ready to add the endorsement to their license, the presenter said.

District staff said the ESL pathway requires 18 credit hours over three semesters; the special education endorsement required 12 hours for the two participants who chose that track. The district pays BloomBoard’s tuition upfront for participants, the presenter said, rather than relying on individual tuition‑reimbursement processes. The vendor’s current price for the 18‑hour ESL program was reported as $7,650 per person; the presenter did not provide a final per‑person total for the bilingual add‑on course but said the bilingual endorsement requires one additional course plus evidence of language proficiency and an accompanying proficiency test.

The board asked about completion rates, participant satisfaction and retention requirements. The presenter said BloomBoard reported a roughly 94% engagement rate among the 32 remaining ESL participants (reflecting two early withdrawals) and that several participants accelerated completion of coursework. The presenter said the two staff who withdrew are under a payback arrangement to reimburse the district for costs associated with their enrollment.

Member Klingler asked whether there is a retention requirement tied to the district’s funding of tuition. The presenter confirmed there is a promissory note arrangement similar to tuition reimbursement: if a participant leaves the district within a specified period after endorsement, a proportional payback applies. The presenter described the graduated payback schedule presented at the meeting: a payback percentage applies if a staffer leaves within the first year after endorsement, a reduced payback applies in the second year (50% in the presenter’s description), and no payback is required after the third year.

The presenter asked the board to support running a new cohort in fall 2025 and said the district has budgeted the program again in the human‑resources allocation. Board members requested the program’s participant survey results and suggested the administration include clearer communication about the asynchronous, primarily self‑paced format before enrollment to reduce withdrawals. The presenter said they will attend the next information session to ensure prospective participants understand the workload and pacing.","Administration updated the board on a BloomBoard partnership to provide ESL and special education endorsements. Thirty‑six staff originally enrolled, two withdrew, and administrators asked for board support for a new cohort this fall.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6271832,"District updates use of Omella activity platform; board presses for SOP and audit steps",1301,1721000,3022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676&start=1721&end=3022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028575-b09cd6adf08fa141d68cb47a339ca676/thumbnail_1721000.jpg","/articles/6271832/Illinois/District-updates-use-of-Omella-activity-platform-board-presses-for-SOP-and-audit-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271832-02ebdf39f11561eb6f0c415a1e2c989b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195375&Signature=TxC5yhEXLsy98cWmbP5Vxk12OLuRA~Im0z1mPwI5cZaZE0gXJGWlMFCX~O548p9HjrKKKPXxOe5olS19jA6K7i7ijniAeOErNrZlM9NQt33KO55gU2sHNzsZHCmh0hhLfyb9DFgSNVFKwGqV19wh2UGWlCacErnh5dS9~jdeQ19iDpi2-qJgB-Db-M8Z6oDABq5~Lfk3aYo5EgIEn2zYhbCLht2VZSvkFIo7cvzVRodzyNhdkRS2znTBY~extFQaZYm8wvaq08S~zYYHGHT41R60MueIAh5AR6B65iDkOMpDvUV6Y9MKmZRaQtHsNInc1X4EaKpTaX5xqZti9J3RQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christy, a district activities staff member, told the Board of Education on April 14 that the district has expanded use of the Omella (sometimes pronounced “Omelet” in the presentation) platform at the secondary level to track club check‑ins/check‑outs, sell event tickets and collect forms and payments. She said the district used Omella for homecoming and prom ticket sales, a club interest survey at “Welcome to High School Night,” blood‑drive check‑ins, service‑hour tracking for honor societies and booster fundraising sales. She said sponsors most often distribute a single laminated QR code for each club meeting and students scan to check in; check‑out scans produce timestamps the district can use to verify locations when a student attends multiple activities in a single day.

The software’s sponsor view and export options are already in use, Christy said, and produce Google Sheets or Excel files and a built‑in Omella export. She said customer support from Omella has been “delightful,” with a rapid response window and event‑time troubleshooting offered by the vendor. For a first use at the high school homecoming dance, Christy said the district checked in about 500 students in under 15 minutes using the QR system and multiple check‑in lines.

Board members asked a series of operational and data‑quality questions that the presentation did not fully resolve. “If we’re going to use this to report data, then we need to have an operating procedure in place,” said Member Negrete McGinley, pressing for consistent sponsor audits and data checks. Member Larson raised the risk that a student could photograph a QR code and have another person scan in for them; Christy said sponsor monitoring and hallway supervision have reduced that problem. Missus Klingler asked about credit‑card fees for online sales; Christy replied the district currently absorbs card fees and that fees vary by card brand and she would provide a precise breakdown to the board.

Christy committed to follow‑up items the board requested: a written standard operating procedure (SOP) for how clubs and sponsors must use Omella, guidance on sponsor auditing of attendance exports, and a timetable for implementing those procedures. When asked for a deadline, Christy said she could produce the SOP within about three weeks and provide interim updates to the board via the weekly report. The presentation also included planned next steps: phased elementary rollout (starting with grades 3–5), expanded use for summer‑program registration, bus volunteer signups, theater seating proposals and additional custom spreadsheets for prom (bus assignments, meal counts, T‑shirt orders).

The board’s questions emphasized the difference between technical capability and consistent practice. Several members urged that sponsors be trained to review attendance exports regularly and that administration define an audit cadence so the attendance data can be trusted for decisions such as stipend justification. Christy said she and the vendor are already designing custom spreadsheets for prom bus rosters, meal tallies and post‑prom lists and that Omella offers event‑time support.

The presentation closed with board direction to deliver the SOP and a short implementation timeline to the board and to circulate exact credit‑card fee figures.","District staff reported expanded use of the Omella activities platform for check‑in, ticket sales and event management; board members pressed for operating procedures, sponsor auditing and a short timeline for rollout of controls.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves contracts, appointments and budget‑related items; Red Rover, Embrace, E‑Rate technology purchases pass

Board hears new SOP after confusion over sale/donation of old jerseys; technology recycling SOP also formalized

District reports BloomBoard cohort progress; 32 staff remain in ESL pathway, district covers tuition up front

District updates use of Omella activity platform; board presses for SOP and audit steps