Board Briefs
January 20, 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 7:04 p.m.
2. Approval of Meeting Agenda
The agenda was approved.
3. Recognition: What's Good in 109
Mr. Steckling shared highlights from around the six DPS 109 schools.
Highlights include:
-Artwork featured at the District Office from Walden students
-The new webpage created to highlight our World Languages department at Caruso & Shepard
-Glow Day in kindergarten at South Park
-Drawing with math at Kipling
-Playing with Ozobots at Walden
-5th graders performing at Wilmot
You can see his presentation below.
Our featured school was Shepard, where the following was highlighted:
-Composting during lunchtime
-First Fridays performances
-Blue Zones projects in social studies
-Cardboard challenge projects in science
-Shepard Talks speeches from 6th grade ELA
We also heard a great presentation from several students representing the Shepard StuCo (student council) and everything they have been up to. You can watch their presentation below:
4. School Resource Officer Presentation
Officer Lauren Maldonado of the Deerfield Police Department presented about work she has done in the district during her two years with us. She has worked on a number of relationship building efforts between the district and the DPD along with community partners. She helps oversee general building safety, ALICE training, guiding proper video installation/placement, and ensuring proper safety procedures. She has also been busy teaching in classrooms, where she has led lessons on things like social media safety, the dangers of vaping, and bike safety. Click below to watch her presentation.
5. Community Participation Relative to Matters on the Meeting Agenda (Policy 2:230)
There were no speakers present.
6. Superintendent's Report
Mr. Simeck thanked the community for helping us get through the challenging start to January. After our call for additional subs, we were able to onboard approximately 30 more people to help in our classrooms.
He reviewed SHIELD testing results. During our first week after break, the positivity rate was 3.34% Last week, it dropped to 1.85%. We also have 2,551 SHIELD consents on file, which amounts to roughly 94% of the student body.
We also have 1,770 student vaccine disclosures on file, which is roughly 65% of the K-8 student body. While the form remains optional, Mr. Simeck encouraged families to fill it out to assist in expediting contact tracing.
There was recent guidance change from IDPH/ISBE that will require individuals returning from a 5-day COVID exposure quarantine to be masked both indoors and outdoors for days 6-10 after returning to school… or for 10 days for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who were exposed to a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19. Our contact tracing team calls families and walks them through how the guidance applies to each individual situation.
DPS 109 was one of the districts featured in a CDC published study of the Test To Stay strategy in Lake County. This is a real source of pride for DPS 109, as we are helping lead the way in mitigation efforts for the pandemic.
There will be changes to Test To Stay coming next week from the Lake County Health Department. We expect to communicate those changes around the end of the month.
Mr. Simeck also wanted to clarify that pending lawsuits in Sangamon County concerning mask mandates do NOT involve DPS 109. There is a District 109 named, but it is not our district. An appeal is certain.
7.1. Freedom of Information Requests (Policy 2:250)
Dr. Filippi discussed one request that was made pertaining to custodial services.
7.2. TRS Supplemental Savings Plan Resolution
Dr. Filippi discussed a new resolution concerning offering a 457 plan as a supplement to TRS. It is required that the district allow teachers to participate in the TRS 457 plan, but is redundant as DPS 109 already offers a 457 plan.
7.3. Annual Audit RFP Results - Recommendation to Approve Lauterbach & Amen, LLP
Dr. Filippi discussed the RFP for annual audit services and recommended that the board engage with the listed firm.
7.4. First Reading - Policy
Dr. Fisher said that PRESS has put out a number of suggestions on a statewide level for policy improvements. The most recent update is one of the largest they have ever had to deal with. The policy committee met this evening prior to the regular board meeting to review. They will be looking at potential rewrites to Policy 6:135 that will be addressed at their committee meeting.
7.5. Printer Lease and Managed Print Services Review
Mr. Bialk says that the district is coming to the end of their lease for many of the printers across the district. The district put out an RFQ and received 5 bids. Names of vendors were not included for confidentiality purposes because pricing was shared.
8.1. Consent Agenda*
Personnel items were approved.
Bills for payment were approved.
Meeting minutes were approved.
8.2. Quarterly Treasurer's Report (Dec 2021)
The report was approved.
8.3. Recommendation to Sell or Recycle Surplus Technology Materials and Equipment
The recommendation was approved.
8.4. Approval of Meeting Minutes: Special Minutes from December 17, 2021
The minutes were approved.
7.5. Approval of Meeting Minutes (Policy 2:220)
The minutes were approved.
9. Committee Reports (Policy 2:150)
Mrs. Jakymiw said that TrueNorth had a digital meeting this month. They have really been negatively impacted by the pandemic and have had to put some classrooms on an adaptive pause.
Mr. Morrison said that policy committee met earlier this evening. They reviewed proposals for school fees, talked about PRESS updates. Recommendations on both will be forthcoming.
Mr. Ashman said that the Facilties Development Committee met earlier this month. They review summer construction work, will send out an RFQ for architectural services,
Mr. Begley said that Executive Development Committee met and discussed administrator salary information for next year. They also discussed the evaluation tool that the board will be using for Superintendent Simeck.
10. Open Community Participation (Policy 2:230)
There were no speakers present.
11. Board/Superintendent Other
President Montgomery thanked the administration for all of their hard work: HR for their dedication to ensure that we had enough staffing to run school. She thanked the community members that stepped up to sub in recent weeks. She thanked the nurses for everything they do, especially with the recent increased testing load. She gave a big shoutout to the Shepard students and staff along with Officer Maldonado for presenting tonight.
Mrs. Jakymiw commended the flexibility of the staff for just rolling with all of the challenges presented to them.
12. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 PM.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
Thursday, February 17, 2022 @ 7 p.m. - Regular Board Meeting
Thursday, March 17, 2022 @ 7 p.m. - Regular Board Meeting
