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Deerfield SD 109 board hears referendum feedback, accepts audit and approves levy and related resolutions
Summary
At its Nov. 20 meeting, the Deerfield SD 109 board reviewed community outreach and survey results for a possible 'Redefine 109' referendum, set a December timeline for a ballot decision, accepted a clean FY25 audit, and approved several levy-related resolutions and motions including rescinding a prior withdrawal notice to True North Educational Cooperative.
The Deerfield School District 109 Board of Education on Nov. 20 reviewed community outreach and survey feedback on a proposed facility-and-capital referendum ("Redefine 109") and took a series of fiscal actions, including accepting the district's FY25 audit and approving levy-related resolutions by roll-call votes.
Administration summarized outreach efforts for Redefine 109: multiple in-person information sessions across September and October, a virtual session with about 70 live participants and 148 subsequent views, three mailings and a survey distributed to approximately 7,900 registered-voter households, and targeted meetings with stakeholders such as the Chamber of Commerce and area realtors. Board members reported common public questions about tax impact, construction phasing, timeline to village and zoning approvals, whether the proposal is final, and whether costs could be phased or reduced. The district said the online poll closes Nov. 22 and that surveys received by Dec. 1 will be included in analysis. The referendum task force will reconvene in December to consider survey results and recommend whether to place a question on the March 17, 2026, election ballot; the full board is scheduled to vote on Dec. 18.
During the Truth-in-Taxation hearing portion of the meeting, resident Mike Elershus told the board he opposed moving forward with a referendum now and raised concerns about overall property-tax burdens and the referendum's cost framing. "This referendum is really coming at the wrong time," he said, citing household tax examples and questions about how costs were presented in district materials.
On fiscal items, the board accepted the FY25 audit (presented by Lauterbach & Amen) and noted the audit returned an unqualified (clean) opinion. The board then voted by roll call to approve the consent agenda, accept the treasurer's report, accept the FY25 audit, approve the 2025 aggregate levy, authorize a supplemental property-tax levy to pay principal and interest on outstanding limited bonds, and approve a levy for special-education purposes. Each motion was moved, seconded, and carried by recorded roll-call votes in the meeting transcript.
On a separate governance matter, the board voted to rescind its June 17, 2025 resolution to withdraw from the True North Educational Cooperative effective July 1, 2026. District representatives explained that new articles of agreement for True North were adopted by member districts and that, because of timing and procedural requirements under state rules, pursuing withdrawal with a 2026 effective date would not be feasible; the board agreed to remain in the cooperative while outstanding questions about membership fees, per-student rates and long-term financial implications are resolved.
The district reiterated that it will continue outreach and post updated FAQs at dps109.org/redefine and that the board will take a formal vote in December after task-force review of community feedback.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting roll calls): - Consent agenda: motion carried (roll-call recorded unanimous 'Aye' votes from listed members). - Treasurer's report: approved by roll call. - Acceptance of FY25 audit: approved by roll call. - Resolution approving 2025 aggregate levy: approved by roll call. - Resolution authorizing supplemental property tax levy for limited bonds: approved by roll call. - Resolution authorizing levy for special-education purposes: approved by roll call. - Motion rescinding prior withdrawal resolution from True North Educational Cooperative: approved by roll call.
The board scheduled a decision on whether to place a referendum on the March ballot at its Dec. 18 meeting and encouraged residents to submit surveys by Dec. 1 for inclusion in the task force's analysis.
