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Board approves 4‑year Apple lease and moves to switch communications platform; obsolete device buyback detailed
Summary
The Round Lake CUSD 116 board approved a 4‑year, 0% Apple lease for $1,604,600 and a 3‑year ParentSquare agreement for $17,252 on March 17; administrators detailed the obsolete-device buyback program and discussed other technology items under finance committee review.
At the March 17 meeting the Round Lake CUSD 116 Board of Education approved a 4‑year, 0% interest lease with Apple Inc. totaling $1,604,600 to purchase new iPads and MacBook Airs for students and staff and approved a 3‑year ParentSquare communications contract at $17,252.
Mr. Kozick (technology department) described the district’s device refresh plan: the district will purchase 11th‑generation iPads for students and staff and take advantage of a lower‑priced MacBook Air release to reduce staff refresh costs by an estimated $35,000. He confirmed warranty and case bundles are included in the lease pricing. The board approved the Apple lease by roll call.
Separately, the communications department requested board approval of ParentSquare, a three‑year contract to replace Remind at the secondary level. The recommended three‑year rate carries a 3% annual increase and a one‑time onboarding fee of $17,252; the contract includes termination only for breach or unavailable funds, per the vendor language shown to the board. Board members asked for implementation standard operating procedures; administrators said they will provide SOPs for ParentSquare prior to rollout, similar to what the district implemented with Dojo at the elementary level.
Mr. Kozick also presented the obsolete‑technology buyback program. He reported market proposals and recommended pricing: fourth‑, eighth‑ and twelfth‑grade students are eligible to buy back their four‑year‑old eighth‑generation iPads at $60 each. Seventh‑generation iPads priced at $50 will be offered to staff (staff may purchase up to three), and staff MacBook Air M1 devices are priced at $200 for staff purchase.
Finance committee members noted additional technology items under review or pending board action, including a proposed replacement for certain HR/time‑management systems (Red Rover), E‑rate supported network and stadium Wi‑Fi upgrades, and bus Wi‑Fi agreements; those items were described by finance staff as coming to future board meetings for approval.
