Protest Greets New 109 Board

More than 30 community members peppered the Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Board of Education with questions and comments Monday protesting the suspension of French classes for incoming sixth graders minutes after three newly elected members took their seats.

In a meeting that was scheduled to be more procedural than anything else, bid the District farewell.

Earlier: District 109 Removes French From 6th Grade Curriculum

Then Sari Montgomery, Scott Kluge and Katie Bittner, who were elected April 9, took their seats before the oath of office was administered to all seven current members. The Board then elected Steve Schwartz president, Nick Begley vice president and Bennett Brenner secretary.

Shortly after Schwartz took the gavel from outgoing President London, it was time for public comment, one of the few items on the agenda.

That is when representatives of a group numbering as many as 40 told the Board about their disappointment teaching of French would be suspended for the 2013-2014 term while the District took a closer look at the world language program.

“We were taken aback not just by the decision but by the process as well,” group organizer Patricia Reese said referring to what she perceived as the suddenness of the action. “Don’t kill it and then study it. Reinstate it and study it.”

Superintendent Renee Goier told the Board April 15 the District was going to suspend the program for a year and study the effects of the change before making any final decisions.

Both then and Monday, Goier explained the switch was made because of block scheduling, overburdening of teachers qualified to teach both Spanish and French and less students electing to take the language.

Schwartz assured the gathering their concerns would be addressed. “World language has always been important,” he said. “We will be looking at alternate ways to delivery world language.”

Patch will have a more in depth story later this week explaining the different points of view.

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