Board Briefs
April 21, 2022
Deerfield Public Schools District 109
Board Meeting Details
This regular Board of Education meeting was held in person at the District Office with no pandemic-related capacity limit. In-person public comment was available for attendees.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. Approval of Meeting Agenda
The agenda was approved.
3. Recognition: What's Good in 109
Mr. Steckling, Director of Communications, shared highlights from around the six DPS 109 schools.
Highlights include:
-Honoring our FOUR Destination Imagination state champions
-A fun family event this week at Early Learners
-Students at Shepard learning about different religions
-Kipling launching their Cultural Collection featuring the country of Chile
-Wilmot beginning planning for their 175th anniversary
-Recognition of our Young Authors winners from across the district!
You can see his presentation below.
Our featured school was Caruso, where the following was highlighted:
-Unique periodic table projects from 8th grade science
-Students using stats about their classmates to present in algebra
-The showdown at the annual students vs. staff basketball game
-The emergence of the "Caruso Minute," a fun weekly talk show
-A 7th grader leading a pen pal campaign with students from Ukraine learning English
We also heard a presentation from the Caruso Drone Racing Club! You can watch their presentation below:
4. Superintendent's Report
Mr. Simeck congratulated 5th graders from Wilmot and South Park who were honored at the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) Lake Region Honors Breakfast that he had the pleasure of attending along with Drs. Brett and Faust.
He thanked families, students, and staff for powering through IAR testing and said that we have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming weeks. We just completed our walkthrough at the high school for our 8th grade graduations taking place on May 31. An Arbor Day event is being planned with the Village of Deerfield. We are just two weeks away from our first kindergarten roundup event!
He passed to Ms. Ford to discuss COVID conditions in our schools. Ms. Ford said that we have seen a very slight rise in the number of positive SHIELD tests to just over 1% in two of the last four weeks. There has been a slight dip in SHIELD participation although we still are seeing the majority of students partake. We have been monitoring a few potential classroom outbreaks, notifying all families and working with them. Mandatory masking had to be implemented in three different classrooms, all with good outcomes. We have also started to see a few more staff test positive for COVID and there should be heightened attention to another wave of potential sub shortages to finish out the year.
Mr. Simeck reminded the board and community of our tools to fight COVID and that at-home tests can now be accepted by our nursing staff. He reiterated that our primary goal remains getting kids in school and keeping them there, and as we witnessed in the last month that may take the form of dialing up and down mitigations on a classroom level to accomplish that.
He passed to Mr. Steckling to discuss a recent honor for our contact tracing team. They have been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association for their work in helping communicate all of the complexities of COVID over the last year.
Mr. Simeck noted that an email just went out today inviting people to an upcoming community conversation about the documentary "Chasing Childhood." Screening of the film is now available, and there will be an optional discussion on Tuesday, May 3rd at Shepard.
Lastly, Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is coming up May 2-6 and he wanted to thank our incredible teachers for everything they do for our students every day.
5. Community Participation Relative to Matters on the Meeting Agenda (Policy 2:230)
There were no speakers.
6.1. Freedom of Information Requests (Policy 2:250)
Dr. Filippi said there are seven requests in the packet that have been addressed.
6.2. Recommendation to Sell, Donate, Recycle, or Dispose of Surplus Material & Equipment
Dr. Filippi presented the list to the board of equipment that the district will try to first sell, and then if they cannot do that, would proceed to donate, recycle, or dispose of.
6.3. Appointment of Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
This would re-approve Dr. Filippi as the district's Treasurer and Kelly Mitchell as the district's Assistant Treasurer.
6.4. Life Safety & LED Lighting Work
Dr. Filippi presented the proposal that would allow for the completion of required Life Safety work and would install LED lighting across the district this summer.
6.5. Olson Transportation Contract Renewal
Dr. Filippi presented the annual renewal for the contract with Olson Transportation. It would be for a one-year contract. The recommendation would be to bring them in to meet with the Finance Committee in the fall to look at future numbers and the potential bidding landscape.
7.1. Consent Agenda*
Personnel items were approved.
Bills for payment were approved.
7.2. Approval of Meeting Minutes from March 17, 2022 (Policy 2:220)
The minutes were approved.
7.3. Quarterly Treasurer's Report
The report was approved.
7.4. Resolution Declaring Teacher Appreciation Week beginning Monday May 2, 2022
The resolution was approved.
7.5. Recommendation to Approve Flooring Replacement
The recommendation was approved.
7.6. Recommendation to Approve Landscape Maintenance Contract
The recommendation was approved.
7.7. Recommendation to Approve Technology Upgrade
The recommendation was approved.
7.8. Recommendation to Approve Kipling Principal Contract
The contract was approved.
7.9. Recommendation to Approve Kipling Assistant Principal Contract
The contract was approved.
7.10. Recommendation to Approve Caruso Associate Principal Contract
The contract was approved.
7.11. 2021-22 Final School Calendar for Submission to Illinois State Board of Education
The calendar was approved.
8. Committee Reports (Policy 2:150)
Mr. Ashman said that the Facility Development Committee will meet next week with architectural firms to discuss upcoming projects.
Mrs. Jakymiw said that TrueNorth had a virtual meeting last week discussing partner district forecasts. They will have an upcoming financial town hall.
9. Open Community Participation (Policy 2:230)
There were no speakers present.
10. Board/Superintendent Other
Mr. Simeck thanked Mr. Andy Elbert and Ms. Anne Clark for their service at Kipling, especially during very difficult times during COVID. He thanked Dr. Fisher for ensuring we had a very strong talent pool and overseeing a very efficient and strong hiring process. He thanked all of the parents and staff that participated in the interview process.
Mr. Morrison thanked Kipling for the invite to the art show this evening.
Mrs. Jakymiw asked about mission and vision rollout. Mr. Steckling said the plan is to fully launch the new mission and vision, along with the strategic plan, at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.
11. Closed Session** (Policy 2:220)
The board adjourned to closed session at 8:18 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).-Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. 5ILCS120/2(c)(2). 12. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Thursday, May 26, 2022 @ 7 p.m. - Regular Board Meeting
Thursday, June 16, 2022 @ 7 p.m. - Regular Board Meeting
