D109 Family News
January 2026 Issue with Important Referendum News
January Redefine 109 Referendum Information Sessions
- Tuesday, January 20: Redefine 109 Information Session at Walden (6:30pm, 630 Essex Ct)
- Saturday, January 24: Redefine 109 Information Session for Early Learners and Community Preschool Families at South Park (10:30am, 1421 Hackberry Rd)
- Tuesday, January 27: Redefine 109 Information Session at South Park (6:30pm, 1421 Hackberry Rd)
- Thursday, January 29: Redefine 109 Information Session at Wilmot (6:30pm, 795 Wilmot Rd)
February 6: Kindergarten Signing Day & Registration Help
The lineup of kindergarten students is growing, and February 6 is the day you can show your commitment to the District 109 team! It's a great opportunity to get in-person registration help, get all of your questions answered, meet staff from the District and your child's school and take a signing day photo to make it official.
February 6 from 9:00am - 4:30pm
District Office, 517 Deerfield Road
At the December 18, 2025, Board of Education’s regular meeting, the Board voted unanimously to place a revised referendum question on the March 17, 2026, ballot.
Throughout the fall, the Board and administration shared information about facility needs and financing options and gathered community feedback. We listened. The revised proposal increases the District’s financial contribution and reduces the scope of the project, resulting in a revised $87,780,000 referendum amount, and a 33% reduction in tax impact compared to the earlier proposal. More than 60% of total project costs would be funded through District resources, including fund balance and alternate bonds.
The updated plan still calls for new construction of Walden and Wilmot and renovations of Kipling and South Park. It continues to address critical infrastructure priorities, accessibility, safety and security needs, and improvements to learning environments across the District. You can view details in the full presentation from the meeting.
The District has scheduled a slew of information sessions to provide complete information and allow community members to get their questions answered, and schools will add discussion opportunities for families over the next few weeks - look for information and invitations from principals.
Referendum details, the schedule of information sessions, a tax-impact calculator, and answers to frequently asked questions are available now at dps109.org/redefine. We will update and add information to the page in the coming weeks. The website is the hub of factual information for the community; our goal is to ensure that all voters have the information they need to make the decision at the ballot box that is best for them. We won't advocate to vote yes or no; we will encourage everyone to be engaged, learn the facts and vote.
Parenting Potholes: Myth vs. Reality with Doug Bolton
Children are struggling emotionally in unprecedented ways, and often, families struggle to know how to best support them. Unfortunately, many modern parenting practices and beliefs interfere with children’s emotional development.
District 109 invites families to Parenting Potholes: Myth vs. Reality, featuring psychologist Doug Bolton. The program will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 6:30pm at Caruso Middle School.
During the presentation, Dr. Bolton will identify common parenting myths that create unnecessary pressure on families and share practical strategies to help refocus caregiving energy on the practices that truly support emotional wellness for children and caregivers alike.
Doug Bolton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of School Consultation for Formative Psychological Services. He spent more than 20 years as a psychologist and principal at North Shore Academy, a K–12 therapeutic school in Highland Park. Dr. Bolton provides consultation, supervision, and professional development to caregivers, educators, and clinicians throughout northern Illinois to help create communities that foster resilience in both children and adults.
“Supporting Kids Who Are Growing Up in Public” (NEW DATE - February 23)
Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Devorah will explore what it means for kids to grow up with an online presence—sharing realistic strategies to support children’s privacy, identity development, and digital well-being.
MAP Scores Coming Through ParentSquare Soon!
As we shared in November’s family newsletter, we are rolling out ParentSquare as our primary communication system. This is the platform we’ll use to connect with our school community, share important updates and send messages securely. You will be able to choose notification preferences (how and when you receive messages—email, text, app notifications, and/or digest options) so you can stay informed in the way that works best for you.
Our launch of ParentSquare will be to send winter MAP score reports. You’ll no longer have to wait to receive printed copies in the mail; instead, you’ll be able to log in and securely view the reports through ParentSquare. Our 8th grade families had great success in December receiving MAP scores – the remaining MAP scores will be sent out through ParentSquare later this month.
What You Need To Do to Be Ready!
Please activate your ParentSquare account as soon as possible so you don’t miss school messages and (when available) your child’s MAP score report.
Here are the quick steps to get started, if you haven't already activated your account:
- Look for an email invitation to activate your ParentSquare account to hit your inbox later today. If you do not see the invitation in your primary inbox, please check your Spam or Junk mail folders, as automated invitations sometimes end up there.
- Activate: Click the "Activate your account" link in that email.
- Verify: Confirm your contact info and children. You may be asked to enter a verification code sent to your text or email. (Optional:You can also sign in with Google)
- Download the ParentSquare app (optional, but very convenient).
These resources can walk you through the process of setting up your account:
- Getting Started Guide (English, Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Ukrainian)
- Getting Started Video
If you need help (missing a child, wrong email/phone, etc.), please contact Annette Maloney (amaloney@dps109.org) so we can help you get connected.
Thank you for your partnership to help us stay clear, connected and stronger together!
Attend a January 14 Focus Group to Provide Your Input
Sessions for parents/guardians/caregivers will be held at DHS at 9:30 a.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Sessions will last approximately 45 minutes. Questions? Contact communications@dist113.org.
To support the work of the strategic plan, District 113 has engaged Mercury Public Affairs to conduct a communications audit. Part of that audit includes focus groups to gather vital input. These focus groups will be important to understanding what's working well and where we can improve our communication strategies and channels. We are especially interested in your ideas about how we can communicate better with all of our stakeholders.
Information About Relevant Programs & Events from Around the Community
District 109 is making it easier than ever to stay connected with businesses and organizations that serve the students and families in our community. Starting soon, you’ll begin receiving a weekly Peachjar email every Thursday around 1pm, featuring digital flyers from:
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Your child’s school
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The District
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Local community organizations
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Businesses offering child- and family-focused programs
The flyers will clearly indicate that the District does not endorse the programs offered by outside organizations. The email will come from "school@peachjar.com." Each email has the option to unsubscribe (at no risk of unsubscribing from District or school emails).