EXTON, PA — Red Rover is bringing school district human resources, payroll and finance leaders together for a national virtual forum Nov. 17, 2026, as the Exton-based education technology company seeks to address administrative inefficiencies affecting staffing, compensation and workforce costs in K-12 public education.
The inaugural K-12 HR and Payroll Leadership Forum will focus on integrating administrative functions that often operate independently within school districts, creating challenges involving employee onboarding, payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance and budget planning.
The free event will feature district administrators, finance executives and technology specialists discussing how coordinated workforce management can improve operational efficiency and reduce administrative risk.
Red Rover, a provider of human capital management software for K-12 education, reported that registration is approaching record levels for the event, drawing interest from school districts nationwide.
The forum reflects growing attention to the relationship between school workforce administration and financial management, particularly as districts navigate staffing requirements, employee retention and increasingly complex payroll and leave policies.
Sue Burman, director of human resources at Livingston Public Schools in New Jersey, identified the separation of administrative responsibilities as a recurring source of operational problems.
“When these teams work in silos, districts feel the impact: a new hire starts late, a paycheck is incorrect, a leave case is handled twice, or valuable employees become frustrated,” Burman stated.
She emphasized that coordination between human resources and payroll departments can improve hiring timelines, payment accuracy and visibility into workforce expenses.
The forum’s programming will examine how districts can manage employees throughout the employment lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through compensation, leave administration and retention.
One area of emphasis will be payroll modernization, including the use of technology to improve processing accuracy, streamline administrative workflows and strengthen compliance with employment requirements.
Participants will also examine leave and absence management, including obligations under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, state-specific policies and individual district requirements.
These responsibilities can involve multiple departments, making coordination important when tracking employee eligibility, compensation and staffing coverage.
Another focus will be workforce planning and position control, which allow districts to monitor authorized positions, staffing levels and associated personnel expenses.
The discussions will address how more detailed position management can support budget forecasting, hiring decisions, payroll accuracy and resource allocation.
Employee retention will also be examined through strategies involving onboarding, workplace engagement and professional development.
The program includes sessions on compliance and operational risk, with an emphasis on developing administrative processes that meet legal requirements while supporting employees.
Red Rover is organizing peer-led panels and interactive breakout sessions involving district human resources and finance leaders, members of its Substitute Management Advisory Council and the company’s payroll and technology specialists.
Dani O’Shaughnessey, Red Rover’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said the event is intended to address the limited opportunities for school human resources and payroll professionals to examine shared operational challenges.
“HR and payroll leaders are the hidden engine that keeps our schools running, yet they rarely have a forum built to collaboratively discuss the realities of K-12,” O’Shaughnessey stated.
The company is positioning the forum as a venue for school administrators to exchange operational practices and evaluate approaches to managing personnel and compensation.
Red Rover’s Jennifer Duvall, co-director of human resources, and Rob Tibbs, co-director of payroll, will lead the event.
The forum was established by Jim O’Halloran, who developed the concept of a dedicated national gathering for K-12 human resources and payroll professionals.
The Nov. 17 program will be conducted virtually, allowing administrators and financial personnel from school districts across the country to participate without traveling.
Registration is free, with the full agenda, featured speakers and session information available through Red Rover’s event registration materials.
The gathering places administrative coordination at the center of school workforce management, linking staffing decisions, employee compensation and compliance obligations to the financial and operational performance of public school districts.
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