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SkyCon 2024

We are excited to welcome you to our 34th annual IL Skyward® User Group Conference at the Tinley Park Convention Center! Using our app will keep you up-to-date with sessions and news as they happen. #ExpandingHorizons at #ILSkyCon2024!

Frequently Asked Questions

2:00pm CST

Tailgate Tuesday - Conference Introduction South Pavilion 1

3:30pm CST

Tailgate Tuesday - Business South Pavilion 2 Tailgate Tuesday - Student South Pavilion 1

5:00pm CST

Tailgate Tuesday - Dinner & Discussion South Pavilion

7:30am CST

Breakfast Buffet - Wednesday West/South Exhibit Registration - Wednesday South Lobby

8:45am CST

Opening Remarks - Wednesday West/South Exhibit

9:15am CST

IT Roundtable South Pavilion 6Jeff Michels • Abe Loveless • Eric Barringer • Mike Bianco • Rob Beck Qmlativ - Bank Reconciliation Setup/Overview Conf Room 1Tera Wagner Qmlativ - Introduction to HR Reporting and Datamining South Pavilion 4/5Cullen Schneider Qmlativ - Qmlativ Implementation: 1 year later North Pavilion 1JoAnn Armstrong • Maggie Mason Qmlativ - Understanding Q Business Security North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank Qmlativ - SIS A-Z Part 1 North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas Qmlativ - Student Overview* South Pavilion 2Adam Johansson Qmlativ - Student Tips and Tricks in More Obscure Areas South Pavilion 3Rick Amelse SMS 2.0 - Finance State Reporting North Pavilion 5Steve Page SMS 2.0 - I Didn't Know You Could Do This - Business Tips and Tricks North Pavilion 3Eric Kurzawa SMS 2.0 - Gradebook for Administrators/Gaining a Teacher's Perspective North Pavilion 2Ian Dart SMS 2.0 - Intermediate/Advanced Student Data Mining South Pavilion 1Aaron Rayburn OTUS - A user-friendly student performance tool that works well with Skyward! Sam Tinley RoomPaul Kaskovich • Lindsay Pietrzak • Otus ParentSquare - What to Consider When Implementing a New Communications Tool Conf Room 2Stacey White • Amy Serrano • Liz Boyles • Scott Anthony • ParentSquare STAi - Orland Park CHSD 230 and SchoolTRAK: Automating Attendance Bremen RoomPat McInerny • Seth Wilkerson • STAi

10:30am CST

Qmlativ IT Intro South Pavilion 6Jeff Michels Qmlativ - Credit Card Processing North Pavilion 3Cullen Schneider Qmlativ - Payroll/HR Tips and Tricks South Pavilion 1Kathryn Smerz SMS/Qmlativ - Employee Management Year End Roll Prep - Q vs SMS 2.0 North Pavilion 6Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck Qmlativ - Scheduling: Course Setup and Future Scheduling North Pavilion 5Shalene Herbert Qmlativ - SIS A-Z Part 2 North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas Qmlativ - Top 10 Reports for Student Administrators South Pavilion 2Adam Johansson SMS/Qmlativ - Attendance Entry in Qmlativ vs SMS South Pavilion 4/5Rachel Kubacki SMS/Qmlativ - Family Access From a Parent Perspective - SMS vs Q South Pavilion 3Stephanie Kaack • Eric Barringer SMS 2.0 - A/P Advanced Options Conf Room 2Eric Kurzawa SMS 2.0 - W2/1099 Processing Sam Tinley RoomMonique Clark SMS 2.0 - Future Scheduling Preparation/Tips and Tricks North Pavilion 1Aaron Rayburn SMS 2.0 - Implementing of Standards into Gradebook North Pavilion 2Ian Dart User Experience - Business Reporting Roundtable Conf Room 1Ashley Prinsen • Jordan Steltenpohl Instructure - Maximizing Efficiency with Canvas and Skyward: Seamless Integration and New AI Features Bremen RoomJordan Wolff • Scott Anthony • Instructure

11:30am CST

Lunch/General Session West/South Exhibit

1:00pm CST

Qmlativ - Single Sign On Options South Pavilion 6Mike Bianco Qmlativ - Applicant Tracking South Pavilion 3Stephanie Kaack • Scott Anthony Qmlativ - Budgeting Options North Pavilion 3Cullen Schneider Qmlativ - EIS South Pavilion 4/5Steve Page Qmlativ - Time Tracking North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank SMS/Qmlativ - Subtracking S2Q Comparison North Pavilion 5Brent Siebring Qmlativ - Gradebook Setup Overview and Variations North Pavilion 2Shalene Herbert Qmlativ - PBIS: The Big 5 on Skyward Q Conf Room 1Amy Downs Qmlativ - SIS Automated Web Service North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas • Rob Beck Qmlativ - Student Tips and Tricks South Pavilion 1Julie Ayers Progressing from SMS 2.0 to Qmlativ South Pavilion 2Tim Casey SMS 2.0 - HR Year End Processes - Planning Ahead Sam Tinley RoomMonique Clark SMS 2.0 - Grading Troubleshooting North Pavilion 1Aaron Rayburn Amazon Conf Room 2Tiffany Preuss • Amazon Business VANCO - Hear from Other Districts: Qmlativ & RevTrak Best Practices Bremen RoomKristine Musaraca • Sandy Lakosil • VANCO Payments

2:00pm CST

Snack Break - Wednesday West/South Exhibit

2:15pm CST

Qmlativ and SMS 2.0 – Improve Your Skyward Security Posture South Pavilion 6Mike Bianco Qmlativ - Activity Accounting Overview North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank Qmlativ - Business New Features and Road Map* South Pavilion 4/5Jordan Steltenpohl Qmlativ - TRS Updates on TRS Gemini Reporting North Pavilion 5Steve Page SMS/Qmlativ - Adding and Maintaining an Employee in Qmlativ vs SMS South Pavilion 3Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck Qmlativ - Entry/Withdrawal and Schedule changes during year - Impact on SIS North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas • Adam Johansson Qmlativ - Introduction to Student Reporting and Datamining South Pavilion 1Julie Ayers Qmlativ - Student Custom Projects - Beginners North Pavilion 1Shalene Herbert • Liz Boyles SMS 2.0 - Advanced True Time Sam Tinley RoomMarc Johnson SMS 2.0 - Taking Control of your Credit Card Processing North Pavilion 3Eric Kurzawa SMS 2.0 - Arena Scheduling: An Innovative Approach to High School Scheduling Conf Room 2Chris Headrick SMS 2.0 - Detention Center Data Entries North Pavilion 2Rebecca Bowen • Michal Caldwell SMS 2.0 - Student Tips and Tricks South Pavilion 2Liz Kelley Vang User Experience - Back to School Roundtable: Addressing Your Needs Conf Room 1Nick Page • Ali DeGeorge e~Funds - A Comprehensive Approach to Accepting Electronic Payments Bremen RoomStephanie Kaack • Jeff Miller • e~Funds

3:30pm CST

Qmlativ and SMS 2.0 - Best Practices to protect against Ransomware South Pavilion 6Mike Bianco Qmlativ - Financial State Reporting North Pavilion 5Steve Page Qmlativ - HR New Employees/Employee Changes North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank Qmlativ - Discipline and State Reporting North Pavilion 4Adam Johansson • Brenda Thomas Qmlativ - Student New Features and Road Map* South Pavilion 1Nick Page • Ali DeGeorge Qmlativ - Tips and Tricks to Migrating to the Special Education Module North Pavilion 1Becky Haas SMS/Qmlativ - Grading in Qmlativ vs SMS South Pavilion 2Rachel Kubacki SMS 2.0 - Task Manager Sam Tinley RoomMarc Johnson SMS 2.0 - Timeoff Leave management, Increments of Time, Years of Service tables S2Q comparison South Pavilion 3Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck SMS 2.0 - Fee Management Proration, Discounts, Food Service connections North Pavilion 2Ian Dart SMS 2.0 - Student: Teach These Tools South Pavilion 4/5Rick Amelse Branching Minds - Responding to Red Flags: Attendance, Behavior, and Course Failures. A seamless integration with Skyward Q North Pavilion 3Beneen Prendiville • Trisha Senne • Branching Minds Progress - OpenEdge Pro2 - Your Skyward SMS 2.0 Reporting Secret Weapon Conf Room 1David Best • Jeremy Wilson • Karen Ury • Progress Red Rover Bremen RoomStephanie Kaack • Red Rover K12 YellowFolder - Discover What the Seamless Integration between YellowFolder and Skyward Can Do For You Conf Room 2Candace Earnest • Yellow Folder

4:30pm CST

Vendor Meet & Greet/Reception (Must Wear Name Badge) North Exhibit

7:00am CST

Registration - Thursday South Lobby Breakfast Buffet - Thursday West/South Exhibit

7:45am CST

Opening Remarks - Thursday West/South Exhibit

8:00am CST

Qmlativ and SMS 2.0 - Define Your What If Strategy: Disaster Recovery Planning South Pavilion 6Jeff Michels Qmlativ - Finance Overview South Pavilion 2Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck Qmlativ - Purchasing Process and Options including Ecommerce and more South Pavilion 4/5Kathryn Smerz Qmlativ - W2s/1099s North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank The Journey Experience South Pavilion 1Matt Birdsley • Dr. R.J. Gravel Qmlativ - Curriculum Setup/Graduation Requirements, Course Recommendations North Pavilion 2Shalene Herbert Qmlativ - Student Thresholds and Groups South Pavilion 3Rick Amelse SMS/Qmlativ - Secondary Scheduling Features Overview Sam Tinley RoomRachel Kubacki SMS 2.0 - HR New Employees/Employee Changes North Pavilion 3Marc Johnson SMS 2.0 - TRS Updates North Pavilion 5Steve Page • Eric Kurzawa SMS 2.0 - Administrator Tips & Tricks Conf Room 2Jamie Hernandez SMS 2.0 - Automated Attendance Letters North Pavilion 1Aaron Rayburn SMS 2.0 - SIS Automated Web Service North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas • Eric Barringer SMS 2.0 - Standards-Based Gradebooks at Secondary Level Conf Room 1Rebecca Bowen Amazon Bremen RoomTiffany Preuss • Amazon Business

9:15am CST

SMS 2.0 - Single Sign On Options South Pavilion 6Jeff Michels Qmlativ - Financial Reporting North Pavilion 3Cullen Schneider Qmlativ - HR Year End North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank Qmlativ - IMRF updates North Pavilion 5Steve Page SMS/Qmlativ - Custom Forms and Automated Processes S2Q comparison Sam Tinley RoomRachel Kubacki Qmlativ - Activities North Pavilion 2Stephanie Kaack Qmlativ - Gradebook for Administrators/Gaining a Teacher's Perspective South Pavilion 4/5Julie Ayers Qmlativ - Student Q Imports and Exports South Pavilion 1Adam Johansson • Seth Wilkerson SMS 2.0 - Advanced HR Data Mining South Pavilion 3Monique Clark SMS 2.0 - Paperless Bank Reconciliation Conf Room 2Christy Kelson SMS/Qmlativ - Shifting Gears: Data Cleanup & other Considerations for SMS to Q Finance/HR South Pavilion 2Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck SMS 2.0 - GPA Calculation\Honor Roll\Class Rank\Transcripts and Transcript Labels North Pavilion 1Liz Kelley Vang SMS 2.0 - SIS A-Z Part 1 North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas Branching Minds - Responding to Red Flags: Attendance, Behavior, and Course Failures. A seamless integration with Skyward Q Conf Room 1Beneen Prendiville • Trisha Senne • Branching Minds ParentSquare - What to Consider When Implementing a New Communications Tool Bremen RoomStacey White • Amy Serrano • Liz Boyles • Scott Anthony • ParentSquare

10:30am CST

Setting up for the Future: Utilizing Skyward's Resources to Ensure Long Term Success South Pavilion 2Kari Hoff • Zach Recker • Leslie Strong Qmlativ - Tips and Tricks for New Users: Tiles, Docks, Favorites and More South Pavilion 1Rob Beck • Matt Birdsley How May IT Services Assist You? South Pavilion 6Jeff Michels Qmlativ - ACA setup: Need help navigating the complexities of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? North Pavilion 5Christine Zollinger Qmlativ - Business Practices to Streamline Your Audit South Pavilion 4/5JoAnn Armstrong Qmlativ - Business Tips and Tricks North Pavilion 3Cullen Schneider Qmlativ - TRS/SSP Q and A Conf Room 1Steve Page SMS/Qmlativ - Purchasing Process in Qmlativ vs SMS North Pavilion 6Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck Qmlativ - Attendance Letters/Monitoring North Pavilion 1Shalene Herbert Qmlativ - Secondary Gradebook Configurations, Grade Scales and Calculation Groups North Pavilion 2Adam Johansson SMS/Qmlativ - Elementary Scheduling Features Overview Sam Tinley RoomRachel Kubacki SMS 2.0 - Finance Data Mining - Beyond the Basics South Pavilion 3Monique Clark SMS 2.0 - IMRF Updates Conf Room 2Marc Johnson SMS 2.0 - SIS A-Z Part 2 North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas STAi - Orland Park CHSD 230 and SchoolTRAK: Automating Attendance Bremen RoomPat McInerny • Seth Wilkerson • STAi

11:30am CST

Lunch West/South Exhibit

12:15pm CST

Delegate Annual Meeting South Pavilion 1

1:00pm CST

Qmlativ - Knowledge Hub South Pavilion 1Stephanie Kaack • Liz Boyles What's New and what's coming in IT Services? South Pavilion 6Jeff Michels Qmlativ - Accounts Payable Run: From Invoice to Checks/Voids South Pavilion 4/5Cullen Schneider Qmlativ - Subtracking North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank Qmlativ - Grading Troubleshooting North Pavilion 2Adam Johansson Qmlativ - Multi-Tiered systems of Support (MTSS)/Response to Intervention (RTI) North Pavilion 1Shalene Herbert Qmlativ - Special Ed Overview South Pavilion 3Rick Amelse SMS/Qmlativ - Budgeting S2Q Comparison North Pavilion 3Cody Dyb • Leah Lueck SMS/Qmlativ - Fee Management SMS to Q Comparison Sam Tinley RoomRachel Kubacki SMS 2.0 - Advanced Payroll Reporting Options Conf Room 1Marc Johnson SMS 2.0 - Employee Information System (EIS) North Pavilion 5Eric Kurzawa SMS 2.0 - Entry/Withdrawal & Schedule changes - Impact on SIS North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas • Liz Kelley Vang e~Funds - A Comprehensive Approach to Accepting Electronic Payments Conf Room 2Dr. R.J. Gravel • Jeff Miller • e~Funds Instructure - Maximizing Efficiency with Canvas and Skyward: Seamless Integration and New AI Features Bremen RoomJordan Wolff • Scott Anthony • Instructure ISCORP South Pavilion 2ISCORP

1:45pm CST

Snack Break - Thursday West/South Exhibit

2:15pm CST

General IT / Security: BEC (Business Email Compromise) South Pavilion 6Mike Bianco Qmlativ - Business New Features and Road Map* North Pavilion 1Jordan Steltenpohl Qmlativ - HR/Payroll Overview South Pavilion 2Kathryn Smerz Qmlativ - Online Forms North Pavilion 6Melissa Plank Qmlativ - Online Registration South Pavilion 4/5Shalene Herbert Qmlativ - Student New Features and Roadmap* South Pavilion 1Nick Page • Ali DeGeorge Qmlativ - Student Overview* North Pavilion 2Adam Johansson Excel Tricks for Skyward Student Management Reports North Pavilion 3Scott Anthony • Liz Boyles • Joel Margliano SMS 2.0 - Finance Year End Process South Pavilion 3Brent Siebring SMS 2.0 - TRS and SSP Q and A North Pavilion 5Steve Page • Marc Johnson SMS 2.0 - Discipline and State Reporting North Pavilion 4Brenda Thomas • Liz Kelley Vang

3:20pm CST

Post-Conference: Steering Committee Roundtable - What can we do for you? South Pavilion 1Liz Boyles • Joel Margliano • Stephanie Kaack • Scott Anthony