Deerfield School Re-Entry Task Force Halts Effort Amid Complaint

DEERFIELD, IL — A group of administrators, teachers, parents and educators formed in July to advise the Deerfield 109 Board of Education on when students can return to in-person learning, is pausing its efforts for the immediate future. In a letter to parents, the DPS 109 School Re-Entry Task Force announced Monday a complaint was made related to the Open Meetings Act that alleges the group could be interpreted as a public body governed by the Act.

"The district believes that the Task Force’s work has been in compliance with the Act, and has operated in a transparent manner to keep the public informed of its work," said Dr. Ryan Kuo, co-chairman of the group and a member of the school board since 2017.

Though the intent is to eventually offer in-person instruction in some form this fall, the district opted to enact its "109 Online" remote learning plan when school got underway last month. It was a pivot from a previous plan to start the year with in-person learning.

That decision led a coalition of parents to form Deerfield for In-Person Schooling, who have been putting pressure on the district to end remote learning.

District officials, in consultation with the DPS 109 School Re-Entry Task Force, recently unveiled a timeline for allowing students to return to school. The plan included a return for all Pre-K students (Sept. 10), and hybrid plans for Kindergarten (Sept. 24), 1st and 2nd grade (Sept. 29), 3rd grade (Oct. 1) and 4th and 5th grade (Oct. 10).

"The Re-Entry Task Force has been hard at work advising the administration and Board of Education on its reopening plans," Kuo said in the letter to parents. "Tapping into the various talents and areas of expertise of our parent community and staff has been a wonder to watch, and an honor to be a part of. This collaboration and exchanging of ideas has undoubtedly ensured that every detail, no matter how small, has been evaluated and addressed as the Task Force assisted the administration in its development of the safest possible re-entry plan"

Due to the complaint, Kuo said that the group will be unable to contribute in its current format until the complaint is resolved. A hybrid plan for the district's middle schools was also being planned.

"Our expectation is that the plan at the elementary level will not be impacted by this pause," Kuo said. "Additionally, our hope is that the disruption related to the Task Force’s inability to support the middle school planning process will be minimal in nature."

Related:
Deerfield Parents Demand In-Person Learning
Virtual Learning To Begin School Year For Deerfield District 109