Board Briefs
January 11, 2021
Deerfield Public Schools District 109
Video of Board Meeting below:
Board Meeting Details
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.
National Board Certification Recognition
The Board recognized Mr. Alexander Rummelhart, 6th grade ELA teacher at Shepard Middle School for completing his National Board Certification!
Shepard Teacher Presentation
Community Participation Relative to Matters on the Meeting Agenda
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.
Superintendent's Report
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.
FOIA Requests
Mr. Himebaugh discussed 3 requests that have been fulfilled.
Reopening Update
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.
Consent Agenda
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.
Committee Reports
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.
Open Community Participation
There were no speakers present.
Adjourn To Closed Session
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.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Monday, February 8, 2021 -- Regular Board Meeting
Monday, March 8, 2021 -- Committee of the Whole
Monday, March 29, 2021 -- Regular Board Meeting
