Deerfield superintendent outlines mental-health work, community advisory council and digital-safety efforts

Superintendent Mike Simic used the Nov. 14 board meeting to outline a string of community-facing initiatives the district is pursuing to address parental stress and student well-being.

Simic described a six-organization Community Advisory Council—formed after a communications audit—to look at shared community problems and joint actions. He said the council includes representatives from schools, police, fire, the village and the park district and that stakeholders suggested a public meeting early in 2025 to vet community actions inspired in part by the film "Chasing Childhood." Simic said leaders plan to bring a list of possible actions to their governing bodies for public consideration.

The superintendent also described district work to expand digital-safety resources on the district website and weekly newsletter tips for families, noted an upcoming Nov. 19 talk by author John Duffy on parenting teens, and announced that the district will follow an e-learning model rather than traditional snow days going forward.

Simic praised staff and community partners and noted facilities work is progressing with master-planning and an upcoming board tour. He closed by thanking board members for their service and observing that tomorrow was School Board Member Day in Illinois.

The board did not take formal votes related to these initiatives at the meeting; administration said it will bring recommendations to governing bodies and host public meetings for community input in 2025.