
The BOE Recap
August 17th, 2023

January 18th, 2024 - Regular Board Meeting
Watch The Meeting Recording Below:
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
2. Approval of Meeting Agenda
The agenda was approved.
3. Closed Session
The board moved into closed session at 6:06 p.m. to discuss: The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act. 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1).** (Policy 2:220)
4. Reconvene to Open Session
The meeting returned to open session at 7:01 p.m.
5. What's Good in 109
Mr. Steckling presented the monthly What's Good in 109 report:
- Caruso math students displayed Kagan Cooperative learning structures by using the Sage & Scribe activity in Ms. Berris's class
- South Park students brought in sack lunches by the boxload as part of their annual philanthropic effort with Uncle Pete's Lunches
- Wilmot staff sent a very nice holiday greeting video to families along with New Year's wishes and resolutions
- Kipling 1st graders were working hard as a team to complete a lesson using maps and directions
- A very nice scene from Shepard will be shared in the Superintendent's Report
Our featured guests were 5th grade Student Council leaders from Walden who have established committees based off of the new DPS 109 Strategic Plan.
6. Superintendent's Report
Mr. Simeck highlighted the recent Community Well-Being & Safety Night. He said it was a great example of the community coming together to collectively learn and listen. A short highlight video from the evening was played. A recording of the presentation along with educational resources and extended board member reflections are now available on our website. They will also be emailed out next week as part of 109 News.
We want to thank our families and staff for their recent pivots to e-learning. We know it's never an easy ask. The leadership team met to review and reflect our recent experience and talk about how we can continually improve.
When we have dangerously cold weather like this, our practice is that the district will close during a Wind Chill Warning. There was a wind chill warning in effect until noon today which helped shape our decision.
It is also important to note that our HVAC infrastructure in some buildings does not allow us to consistently heat all spaces in extreme weather conditions like the ones we just experienced. Everything was working just fine, the equipment just simply couldn't rise to the challenge of such frigid temps. This will be a critical part of our forthcoming master facility planning conversation. We want to be able to have kids in school. If you would like to learn more about our Master Facility Planning process, visit dps109.org.
Finally, there was some very real grit on display today at Shepard. 6th graders gave their grit talks and one young lady froze up and had to restart her talk. She was able to overcome everything and deliver a solid performance. That is truly what we want to see from our students!
7. Community Participation Relative to Matters on the Meeting Agenda (Policy 2:230)
There were no speakers present.
Informational Items
8.1. Freedom of Information Requests (Policy 2:250)
Dr. Filippi presented a number of items to the board that are detailed in the posted packet.
8.2 Strategic Plan Update: Goal 3
Ms. Ford and a team presented an update on Goal 3 of the Strategic Plan, which is Equitable Outcomes. You can watch the segment below.
8.3 Recommendation to Accept Donation
Dr. Filippi presented the $500 donation from AbbVie to Kipling School, which will be used to benefit students.
Action Items
9.1. Consent Agenda*
9.2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
The minutes were approved.
9.3. Quarterly Treasurer's Report with Student Activities
The report was approved.
9.4. Approval of Administrative Contracts
The contracts were approved.
9.5. Recommendation to Accept Donation
The donation was approved.
10. Committee Reports
11. Open Community Participation
There were no speakers present.
12. Board/Superintendent Other
Mr. Simeck encouraged the community to attend the upcoming Deerfield Parent Network talk by Devorah Heitner. It's happening on February 6th at Highland Park High School.
President Montgomery thanked everyone who attended the community well-being & safety meeting. She thanked the community partners that came out for the event and for all of the staff that assisted in making the evening happen.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.