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Hinsdale South teacher offers free one‑year trial of classroom app he built
Summary
A 32‑year district teacher asked the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 board to allow a one‑year free trial of "Kovalna," an app he developed, saying the company carries $2 million in liability insurance and that the product could replace a current $5,000/year tool. The board took no action at the meeting.
John Schlamin, a teacher with three decades of experience in the district, asked the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 board during public comment to allow a one‑year, no‑cost trial of an educational platform he developed.
Schlamin said the product, which he spelled aloud as "k o v a l n a," is designed to foster student discussion and group work while giving teachers real‑time data on progress. He told the board the company is a registered LLC with "$2,000,000 in liability insurance in place today" and said student work would remain the district’s property. "Let the classrooms get a little louder," he said.
Schlamin said the trial would be entirely free in writing and could replace an online coding product the district currently pays about $5,000 a year to license. He acknowledged potential conflict‑of‑interest concerns — noting both that he is the app’s founder and that the platform is new — and said he would not take payment during the trial period and that any purchasing decision would occur only after the trial and only if the district chose to buy.
The board did not take action on the request at the special meeting; the public‑comment period concluded and the agenda moved on to action items.
