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Council Rock reviews multi‑year renewals for GoGuardian, Finalsite, Managed Methods and PowerSchool
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Summary
The finance committee reviewed renewals for classroom and back‑office software: Managed Methods (cloud monitor) at roughly $33,112, Finalsite website software at $46,700, GoGuardian 2‑year classroom monitoring at $136,290, and PowerSchool student information system at $146,631.69.
The finance committee reviewed several software renewals on May 8 that the administration recommends purchase for the 2025‑26 school year.
Managed Methods Cloud Monitor — The district presented a renewal that protects Google and Microsoft cloud accounts and includes a malware add‑on. The total cost presented was $33,112, comprised of approximately 1,300 staff accounts at $18 each (about $14,508) and student accounts at $3 each (about $15,007); the current year cost is $31,063.
Finalsite — The district’s website platform renewal was presented at $46,700 for the coming year, up slightly from the current year’s $44,900; the administration noted this covers the content‑management license but not hosting.
GoGuardian — The district proposed a two‑year renewal for GoGuardian classroom device management and teacher tools totaling $136,290 (two‑year purchase) to lock in pricing; one‑year cost is $69,200 and the two‑year purchase saves roughly $2,110 vs. two single‑year purchases. Staff described GoGuardian as a classroom device‑management and instructional tool that can restrict student browsing to assigned sites, push teacher or student screens to the class, and otherwise control device access during lessons. “I can preload an assignment so that you only have access to 2 websites…so you can't go to Google, you can't go to Wikipedia,” a district staff member explained when describing classroom use.
PowerSchool — The student information system renewal was listed at $146,631.69 for July 2025–June 2026, up from a current year cost of $123,963; the presentation said part of that increase reflects a newly required module for elementary report cards (about $17,000).
Why this matters: these contracts provide instructional tools, student‑data systems and website services used across the district; cost increases are feeding into the non‑personnel portion of the 2025‑26 budget.
