District 109 board approves consent agenda, financial and contract items; MOU with teachers association passes

At its Dec. 12 meeting, the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Board of Education approved a slate of routine business items by roll-call vote, including the consent agenda, treasurer’s report, a memorandum of understanding with the Deerfield Education Association, contract renewals and statutory operational-fund reports.

The consent agenda (agenda item 9.1), which included approval of meeting minutes, personnel actions, resignations and retirements, leaves of absence, employment of certified and educational support staff, at-will staff hires and bills for payment, passed by roll-call. The treasurer’s report (9.2) also passed. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Deerfield Education Association (9.3).

On contracts and services, the superintendent described a crossing-guard-services renewal with Andy Frane Services; language in the contract was clarified by the district’s legal team to make explicit that the agreement covers crossing-guard services only. A landscaping bid process produced Yellowstone as the apparent low bidder; staff recommended bringing a three-year agreement to the board in January.

Statutory reporting obligations were completed: staff presented the required operational funds expenditure reports and reserve reduction plans under the cited Public Acts and the board approved them (items 8.6/9.9). The board also approved a financial planning agreement (9.8) and a package of administrative contract approvals (9.10), including postings and amendments for assistant superintendents and a Shepherd Middle School principal amendment.

Votes at a glance

- 9.1 Consent agenda — Motion moved/seconded; roll-call: Doctor Dornfeld (Aye), Ms. Joyce (Aye), Mr. Kuo (Aye), Ms. Bonner (Aye), President Montgomery (Aye). Outcome: approved.
- 9.2 Treasurer’s report — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.3 MOU with Deerfield Education Association — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.4 Board meeting expenses — Discussed abstention norms; roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.5 Closed-session minutes biannual review — Motion to open specified closed-session minutes with redactions as needed; roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.6 Approval of probationary staff non-renewals — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.7 Tentative budget calendar 2025–26 — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.8 Financial planning agreement — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.9 Public Act operational funds expenditure report — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.
- 9.10 Administrative contract approvals — Roll-call Aye votes recorded; outcome: approved.

All recorded roll-call votes in the meeting transcript show the same set of board members voting Aye: Doctor Dornfeld (or Dornfeld/Durenfeld as transcribed), Ms. Joyce, Mr. Kuo, Ms. Bonner and President Montgomery; each motion carried as recorded in the minutes. Several items were discussed briefly by staff prior to votes; where contract or budget details were not specified in the meeting, staff noted they would return with more detail (for example, the landscaping contract will be recommended in January).