District 109 To Make Wednesday 'Early Release' Day for Students

Wednesday will become an “early release” day for District 109 students beginning in the 2016-17 school year.

District 109 Superintendent Michael Lubelfeld announced Wednesday the change, which will see middle school students dismissed at 2 p.m. and elementary students at 2:25 p.m. those days, is a result of negotiations between the District and the Deerfield Education Foundation (Teacher’s Union), which agreed on a four-year deal on Monday.

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While Wednesdays will mean slightly less classroom time for students those days, the time will be spent as a professional learning opportunity for instructors.

On those days, teachers will be able to participate in sustained, consistent professional development sessions, which will run from 2:15-3:30pm for middle school certified staff and 2:40pm-3:55pm for elementary school certified staff,” Lubelfeld said. “Those sessions will allow teachers to have 30+ learning opportunities throughout the year. It will increase flexibility and collaboration among staff, giving teachers more productive learning and training time.”

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To not take away from teaching and learning times through the early dismissals, the District will replace the October Institute Day and four half-day institutes with regular full days. An additional day of student attendance will also be added.

“We realize that this change will impact family schedules - that’s one reason why these changes will not take effect until 2016-2017,” said Lubelfeld. “ We are working with internal resources, as well as the PTOs and Deerfield Park District, to offer after-school care options.”

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