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Deerfield Public Schools District 109

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Redefine 109

Facilities for Our Future

  • Deerfield Public Schools District 109 has reached a significant moment in our history, in our future. After more than three years of planning, and with thoughtful input from a representative Referendum Task Force, the Board of Education is considering placing a capital facilities referendum on the March 2026 ballot.
  • Before the Board makes that decision, community members will have many opportunities to learn about District 109's facilities and finances, and the possible solutions to our facility needs. Any referendum proposal will be for the community, and the decision will be made with the community. It is our once-in-a-generation opportunity to Redefine 109. 
  • This site is your go-to source for accurate, accessible, up-to-date information. Whether you’re a parent, staff member, neighbor or longtime Deerfield resident, your voice matters. We invite you to explore the materials, attend an event, ask questions and share your feedback. This is about more than buildings, it’s about supporting student learning for generations to come.

Couldn’t Make it to a Community Information Session?

No problem! Watch the recording of our virtual session held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Redefine 109 Facilities for Our Future with blue, green and yellow curves to form a circle around the words

Asked & Answered

You have questions — and we want to provide answers you can rely on. Asked & Answered is a collection of frequently asked questions about the potential capital referendum. We’ll continue to add to this section as new questions come in, keeping our community informed every step of the way.

See if your question has been asked and answered!

Share Your Thoughts

The future of our schools is a community decision. Add your voice by participating in our ThoughtExchange — share your feedback and questions, and help guide the conversation about Redefine 109. 

Quick Facts: The "2+2" Proposal

The 2+2 Plan is the Referendum Task Force’s recommended approach to addressing critical facility needs across District 109 while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

What the Proposal Includes

  • 2 New Elementary Schools
    • Walden Elementary – complete replacement
    • Wilmot Elementary – complete replacement
  • 2 Renovated Elementary Schools
    • Kipling Elementary – full renovation and addition
    • South Park Elementary – full renovation and addition
  • Targeted Middle School Improvements: Safety, security, HVAC and learning space updates at Caruso and Shepard

Why It’s Needed

  • Addresses aging infrastructure, outdated mechanical systems and ADA accessibility concerns

  • Expands and modernizes learning spaces to meet today’s educational standards

  • Reduces ongoing emergency repairs and costly system failures

  • Avoids higher costs due to construction price escalation (currently ~$11M per year)

Funding Proposal

The plan calls for 50.46% of the total project cost to be funded by the District with non-referendum dollars, including fund balance and alternative bonds, neither of which would increase the current tax rate. The other 49.54% would be funded with a bond referendum.

Funding Sources

Pie chart showing District 109 Contribution of $123,285,792 (51%) and Referendum Funds of $121,383,311 (49%)
Redefine 109 Funding Sources breakdown pie chart

Why Redefine 109?

Take a closer look at the learning happening inside our schools — and the facility challenges standing in the way. Watch how Redefine 109 is about more than buildings; it’s about ensuring our students and educators have what they need to thrive.

Photo of stairwell at Wilmot
bathroom with water damage on the floor
Photo of a wall with an outdated electrical panel with wires all around

Tax Calculator

Transparency matters. Use this calculator to get a personalized estimate of how the proposed referendum bonds could affect your property taxes. Enter the amount you paid in 2025 (based on the 2024 levy). The result is the estimated increase you will see on your property tax bill as a result of the referendum; that is the amount that will remain on your bill for the term of the referendum bonds (25 years).

Amount of Property Taxes Paid in 2025 (2024 levy year)
$
Estimated Annual Tax Increase Due to $121.4M Bonds
$0

A Note About Taxes

This tax calculator is designed to provide an estimate of the potential tax increase on your property resulting from a Deerfield 109 referendum bond issuance. 

The number shown is the estimated annual impact from the proposed bond referendum. The bond issue is repaid over 25 years.  The total cost over the life of the bonds can be estimated by multiplying the annual increase by 25 years.

That amount would not be shown as a stand-alone line item on your tax bill; rather, you will see one amount for District 109, which would include the referendum bonds, as well as the District's tax levy, which is likely to increase annually. However, the Property Tax Extension Limitation Act restricts the growth of tax levies to five percent or the percent increase in the national Consumer Price Index (CPI)—whichever is less. Find more information about the District's historic tax levies, as well as our annual financial report. 

In addition, other factors not accounted for in this calculator—such as changes in your property's assessed value—may cause the actual tax impact to differ from the estimate provided.

Need Your Tax Info?

Not sure how much you paid in 2025 property taxes?

No problem. You can look it up through the Lake County Assessor’s Office. You can search by property owner's name, address or PIN and find your most recent tax information.

Property Tax Search

In Your Mailbox

All registered-voter households in District 109 received a newsletter in September with details about the proposed referendum plan. If you didn't receive this mailer, and believe you should have, please contact Cathy Kedjidjian, who will make sure you receive future communication. 

Learn More