Board approves copier lease and plans to bring some special education routes in-house, citing savings

The Round Lake Area Board of Education on Dec. 15 approved a five-year copier lease and a five-year print maintenance agreement totaling $132,466.73, and heard administration’s plan to bring approximately 6.5 outsourced special transportation routes back in-house beginning January 2026, estimated to save roughly $330,000 per year.

Mister Kozak/Kozick told the board the district’s copier fleet will be replaced with new machines under a five-year lease; the expected $67,000 annual lease payments will be funded from the debt-service fund using available interest earnings. A five-year print maintenance contract at $5,395 per month will be funded from the technology budget; administration said this represents a reduction from the current $7,100 monthly maintenance cost. The administration estimated the new machines will have an expected five-year lifespan and that rollout would occur in January.

Doctor Mendoza described a plan to bring about 6.5 outsourced special-education transportation routes back in-house beginning January 2026. Administration estimates the change will generate about $330,000 in annual cost savings. The district discussed purchasing two minivans as an alternative to activity buses and noted that selling the larger activity buses could offset costs. Transportation staff said the district hired seven substitute bus drivers, which administration expects will allow the additional in-house routes to be absorbed without hiring full‑time drivers.

The finance committee also previewed a proposed multi-year Incident IQ contract to replace several existing platforms. Committee materials showed current spending at about $82,000 versus an Incident IQ proposal of roughly $39,000, implying a potential annual savings of about $42,000; the item will return for a fuller presentation on Jan. 12.

Motions to approve the copier/maintenance agreements and to accept these operational plans were made by Mister Jewett, seconded by Missus Klingler; roll-call votes recorded the motion carried. The board also approved the consent agenda (accounts payable $1,886,209.16, previous motion report $853,540.55, Treasurer’s Report and employment report) earlier in the meeting.

Votes at a glance: minutes (approved), consent agenda (approved), Grad Bash overnight field trip (approved), five-year copier lease and five-year print maintenance agreement totaling $132,466.73 (approved), revised levy resolution (approved), authorization for Kira Bucek LLC (approved).