Email: esteckling@dps109.org
Website: www.dps109.org
Location: 517 Deerfield Road, Deerfield, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 945-1844
Twitter: @DPS109

The January 11th regular board meeting was held both on site at the District Office and remotely via Zoom. Due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, only 10 people were permitted inside the boardroom at any given time, observing proper physical distancing and wearing face coverings. Members of the public could listen/observe the meeting by logging in to a designated Zoom webinar. For open/community participation, a laptop was set up in the District Office to accommodate live public comment. The district also created a dedicated voicemail line for public comment.

The Board recognized Mr. Alexander Rummelhart, 6th grade ELA teacher at Shepard Middle School for completing his National Board Certification!

Ms. Ann Blythe, 7th grade science teacher at Shepard Middle School, gave a presentation on how teachers have adapted their science curriculum to remote learning. You can see a copy of her presentation here.

There were several dozen voicemails played from the public comment line. Most referenced the decision to return to hybrid learning and their agreement or disagreement with the school re-entry process. After the voicemails were played, several speakers also addressed the board on the same topic.

Mr. Rafferty congratulated Barb Dombroski, HR specialist with District 109, who received the Human Resources Support Staff Award for the 2020-2021 school year from the Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators.

Mr. Himebaugh discussed 3 requests that have been fulfilled.

Mr. Rafferty says that the superintendents' recommendation is to move to the hybrid schedule next Tuesday, January 19th for all students. In-person learning would begin for PK-6 on 1/19 and for 7th & 8th on 1/21.

Mr. Rafferty explained that the factors the district is using in their decision-making have evolved over time. We know much more now than we did in the summer.

1. We continue to work closely with the Lake County Health Department, who, since October, has revised their School Decision Dashboard which provides greater flexibility for schools to consider when deciding on what type of learning opportunity to provide.

2. Medical experts and advisers have stated that the district's mitigation protocols and PPE supply in place will minimize the risk of transmission by individuals in our buildings.

3. There has been more information about the social emotional impact that virtual learning has had on children.

4. Other schools in our area using similar mitigation protocols have not seen outbreaks or extensive transmission of COVID-19.

He said that District 109 is in the pipeline for SHIELD testing and that teachers may be in line for COVID-19 vaccinations in February.

Mr. Rafferty said that the district will continue to look at all of these factors, along with current hybrid schedules, to see how in-person instructional time can be increased during this current school year.

Meeting Minutes from Closed Session with IASB on 12/15 was approved.

Personnel items were approved.

Bills for payment were approved.

Meeting Minutes from Open Sessions on 11/16, 12/15, and 1/6/21 were approved.

Executive Development Committee met and has some issues to discuss in closed session.

Finance Committee will be meeting on January 25th.

Policy Committee will be meeting on January 25th.

There were no speakers present.

The Board voted to adjourn into closed session at 8:15.

They reconvened in open session at 9:32 and voted to adjourn the meeting.

Monday, February 8, 2021 -- Regular Board Meeting

Monday, March 8, 2021 -- Committee of the Whole

Monday, March 29, 2021 -- Regular Board Meeting