Board allows administration to pay up to $50/hour for oral translation to secure niche languages

The Kaneland CUSD 302 Board of Education voted to authorize district administration to pay up to $50 per hour for oral translation services, effective Oct. 29, 2024, citing difficulties securing qualified interpreters for less-common languages.

Doctor Atkins told trustees that the district historically set separate written and oral translation rates but that market changes have increased costs for oral interpretation—particularly for languages with smaller local pools, like Vietnamese or Urdu. He said contract agencies charge roughly $65 per hour and the translator themselves typically receives about $50 per hour after agency overhead, prompting the recommendation to realign the oral rate from $25 to up to $50 per hour so the district could hire freelancers directly on an as‑needed basis.

Board members asked whether the increase would apply to all languages (Atkins said any oral translation would be eligible) and how frequently niche languages are requested; Atkins said demand “ebbs and flows” and that the district budgets about $50,000 per year for translation services but that actual costs vary year to year depending on student and family needs.

Trustees discussed equity concerns, supply‑and‑demand rationales for higher pay on niche languages and whether the district should allow an “up to” authority rather than a fixed bump; Atkins said an “up to” authority would give needed flexibility to secure interpreters quickly and potentially avoid more expensive agency contracts. The board approved the proposal by roll-call vote.

What the vote does: the administration can contract or hire interpreters on an as‑needed basis at rates up to $50/hour for oral translation; written translation rates and budget monitoring remain subject to standard procurement and budget controls.