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Harlem UD 122 board approves routine contracts and payables, debates license‑plate software add‑on
Summary
Trustees approved $8.07 million in expenditures and multiple vendor agreements (Per Mar Security, Bright Beginnings, ROE 17, MTSS PD, Upchieve, Gordon Flesch copiers, Challenger Learning Center) and narrowly approved a $279.47/month add‑on for CLEAR license‑plate recognition after a privacy debate (6–1).
At its Sept. 8, 2025, meeting, the Harlem UD 122 Board of Education approved the district’s payables for the period and a slate of routine contracts and partnerships, while members debated the addition of license‑plate recognition functionality to the district’s existing CLEAR subscription.
Business and operations director Josh Schurien reported total expenditures of $8,071,157.96 for the period, including two payrolls totaling $7,090,796.05 and payables of $980,361.91. He provided a funded breakdown: education fund $6,924,615.77; tort fund $23,175; operations and maintenance $426,890.80; transportation $375,626.11; IMRF/Social Security $247,509.43; Capital Projects $73,340.85.
The board approved a set of agreements and resolutions on the consent agenda: a $3,540 agreement with Per Mar Security to update monitoring systems at the district administration center; an independent‑contractor agreement with Bright Beginnings Bilingual Therapy LLC to provide speech and language evaluations for 2025–26 at $1,000 per evaluation (pre‑K–2) and $1,400 (grades 3–12), with screening at $80 per hour funded by IDEA grants; a $6,400 ROE 17 partnership to continue OpenSciEd implementation paid by Title II funds; $16,116 for Illinois MTSS Network professional development funded by the School Improvement Grant; a $10,000 Upchieve tutoring agreement funded by the School Improvement Grant; and a Gordon Flesch Company copier lease/purchase for six sites at a cost listed in the motion ($96,585). The board also accepted a $5,000 donation from Progressive Components to support CTE programming.
A more contentious discussion centered on an add‑on license for CLEAR license‑plate recognition software at an additional $279.47 per month. Board member Carlson described the technology as "a little sinister" and raised concerns that tracking license plates could be used to monitor families and might push students away from the district. Carlson said the expense seemed unnecessary when district priorities include direct student support. Other trustees and staff defended the add‑on as a low incremental cost that helps staff investigate residency fraud and reduce the time required to compile evidence; Josh Schurien and other staff said the tool would be used selectively to corroborate existing evidence (for example, to support investigations of falsified addresses) rather than as routine surveillance.
The board approved the CLEAR add‑on by roll call with one No vote (Board member Carlson) and the remainder voting Aye. Several other contract and consent motions were approved by roll call during the meeting.
What the board did: approved payables totaling $8,071,157.96, accepted a $5,000 CTE donation, and ratified multiple vendor agreements and professional‑development contracts; approved the CLEAR license‑plate add‑on 6–1.
What’s next: members asked staff to keep the board informed on investigations arising from use of CLEAR data and to report any policy changes needed to govern use of license‑plate information.
