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Deerfield 109 referendum task force backs “2+2” plan to replace two elementary schools and renovate two others
Summary
A district task force recommended a “Plan A (2+2)” for a potential bond referendum: build two new elementary schools to replace two existing buildings and fully renovate two others. The board will discuss the recommendation July 14 and present details July 24, with community engagement and polling planned for the fall.
Superintendent (identified in the meeting as Mike) told the Deerfield School District 109 board on June 17 that a district referendum task force has recommended a “Plan A,” described as a “2+2” approach, as the option to survey the community this fall. The recommendation calls for constructing two new elementary buildings to replace two existing schools and fully renovating two other elementary schools, with targeted renovations at the middle school.
The task force met three times between April and early June to tour facilities, review finances and consider options including “do nothing,” renovation-only, and construction-and-renovation scenarios. Superintendent Mike said the committee’s preferred option is to replace two elementary schools (identified during the meeting as Walden and Wilmot) with new buildings and to fully renovate Kipling and South Park, while maintaining similar amenities across all elementary buildings regardless of whether they are new or renovated.
Why it matters: a successful bond referendum would affect district construction timelines and local property taxes and would guide the district’s facilities work for years. The district announced a two-step board process: a committee-of-the-whole discussion on July 14 and a comprehensive presentation to the full board on July 24. That presentation will include master facility planning details, potential tax impacts, construction timelines and community engagement plans, and will be followed by polling and fall outreach, the superintendent said.
Key details from the superintendent’s report: the task force included district and community representation; its three meetings occurred April 17 (Walden tour and finances), May 7 (Wilmot tour, options and funding), and June 4 (review of operational, educational and tax impacts). The superintendent described the recommendation as the option the task force wants the district to share with the community and to poll this fall.
Next steps as described to the board: committee-of-the-whole discussion July 14; a detailed presentation at the July 24 regular board meeting; a fall period of community information sessions, building tours, FAQs on a district website, mailers and polling. The superintendent emphasized that the district will present potential tax impacts and construction timelines as part of that process.
The board did not vote on a final referendum question at the June 17 meeting; the item was presented as the task force recommendation and scheduled for further board review in July.
