Superintendent Mike told the Deerfield SD 109 Board of Education on May 15 that the district should oppose requests by member districts to leave the True North Educational Cooperative, warning that departures would increase costs for remaining members.

Mike said one driver is fiscal: “with each member district that leaves, there's an additional level of fiscal responsibility that the remaining districts then will need to shoulder,” and he recommended the board not approve exits. He told the board that District 109’s membership cost is currently $346,000 per year and that the cost would rise as districts withdraw.

The superintendent framed the issue as both financial and structural. He said District 109 and other member districts face “unknown, at this time, financial obligations” if the cooperative’s membership shrinks. The board later considered a formal resolution opposing a withdrawal petition filed by Glenbrook School District 225.

At the May 15 meeting the board moved from discussion to action. The board voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to oppose Glenbrook 225’s petition to withdraw. The roll call recorded the following votes as “Aye”: Miss Bonner; Dr. Dornfeld; Miss Jakameau; Miss Joyce; Mr. Murev; Mr. Abraham; and Board President Quo. The motion carried.

Why it matters: True North operates programs used by District 109 students. If membership declines, remaining districts could face higher costs or a need to restructure the cooperative’s services. The superintendent said those risks were central to his recommendation that the board oppose exits.

Board members and staff also discussed the district’s broader facilities and finance planning during the superintendent report. Mike noted a separate, ongoing referendum task force — a 31-member group that will produce recommendations on facility and financing options for community review later this year.

What happens next: The referendum task force will meet again in June to formulate recommendations for the superintendent. Any decision to place a question on a ballot would follow additional community polling and outreach and would require a subsequent formal recommendation and board action.

Details of the Glenbrook vote and the superintendent’s remarks are recorded in the meeting transcript.