News Summary
The District 65 school board in Evanston/Skokie met for an extensive discussion on possible school closures due to financial strains. Key issues include declining enrollment, a significant budget deficit, and maintenance backlogs. While no definitive votes on closures were conducted, the board plans to present preliminary scenarios in September for community feedback. The district also faces major maintenance costs, fueling the necessity for strategic resource management to ensure educational quality amidst fiscal challenges.
Evanston/Skokie, Illinois – School Board Discusses Potential School Closures Amid Financial Challenges
The District 65 school board in Evanston/Skokie convened for over four hours to deliberate on critical issues facing the district’s future, including the possibility of closing schools, evaluating test scores, and addressing significant maintenance backlogs. The meeting highlighted ongoing efforts to respond to a mounting budget deficit and declining student enrollment, conditions impacting the district’s operational plans.
Key Decisions and Next Steps
While no official votes on school closures are scheduled during this meeting, the board indicated that decisions are expected in the fall. The next scheduled gathering will occur on September 29, at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, where preliminary school closure scenarios will be presented for consideration. These scenarios will not include formal votes but will serve as a basis for community feedback and further planning.
Adjustments to the meeting schedule aim to maximize community engagement, allowing families, staff, and residents to share input after traditional family-teacher conferences. Additionally, four public community meetings are planned between October 14 and October 16 to solicit feedback about potential closures and district strategies.
Evaluation Criteria for School Closures
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Beardsley provided an overview of how the district intends to evaluate and score potential school closure scenarios. The evaluation considers several factors, including geography (distance and access), equity (serving diverse student populations), building functionality, potential income from closing buildings, and costs. These metrics will help determine which schools might be prioritized for closure.
The board discussed the range of options, generally focusing on closing two to four schools in different scenarios. Some options include zero or one closure, and debates emerged about whether to involve middle or magnet schools. Previously, the district decided to close Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, a K-8 magnet school, at the end of this academic year, a decision that remains unchanged in these discussions.
Furthermore, the district agreed to include the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School in a closure scorecard, noting its RISE program, which serves students with disabilities, was a significant factor in the decision to evaluate its potential closure.
Financial and Maintenance Challenges
The district faces approximately $200 million in deferred maintenance costs across its buildings, with only about $2 million annually allocated toward upkeep. This funding gap raises concerns about the sustainability and safety of current infrastructure. During discussions, some board members suggested initiating a capital bond referendum to raise funds specifically for repairs. However, there was notable caution expressed about increasing taxpayer burdens without first addressing fiscal management and budgeting practices.
Current building capacity utilization is limited, with the district operating at around 65% of its total capacity. Future plans, including school openings and closures, are expected to reduce this utilization further, potentially to 58%.
Academic Performance and Future Assessment Plans
Preliminary results from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) indicated that approximately 54.6% of students met expectations in language arts, and 42.1% met math standards. However, recent updates to the testing cut-off scores show that the actual proficiency levels are higher—about 64.1% in language arts and 52.7% in math—reflecting more favorable assessments of student achievement.
The district is transitioning to new standardized testing platforms, replacing the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) with i-Ready for math and Renaissance STAR assessments for literacy. These changes are part of efforts to improve data accuracy and track student progress more effectively.
To enhance oversight, a new accountability framework will be introduced, including quarterly updates, an interactive data dashboard accessible to the public, and various scorecards that will track the district’s strategic goals and progress toward key benchmarks.
Transportation and Policy Adjustments
Members briefly discussed plans to modify transportation policies, such as reducing crossing guards and implementing fee-based busing for magnet schools. Specific voting on these transportation policies is scheduled for the September 29 meeting, with details yet to be fully outlined.
Context and Broader Implications
The ongoing discussions occur against the backdrop of a significant 20% decrease in student enrollment since 2018. This decline has contributed heavily to the district’s fiscal challenges, including the need to consider school closures to stabilize finances and optimize resource allocation. The district’s efforts to address budget deficits, maintain facilities, and support academic achievement continue to shape its strategic planning for the coming years.
Overall, the district’s planning presents a complex balancing act, weighing fiscal responsibility against community needs, student access, and educational quality as it navigates through one of its most challenging fiscal periods in recent history.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Champaign Unit 4 School District Faces Financial Challenges
School District 65 Considers Closures Amid Financial Struggles
Additional Resources
- Evanston Round Table: District 65 School Closures and Deferred Maintenance
- Evanston Now: Board Leaning Towards at Least Two School Closings
- ABC 7 Chicago: District 65 Students Head Back Monday
- Chicago Tribune: Evanston Skokie D65 May Close Four Schools
- Evanston Round Table: Potential School Closures in District 65
- Google Search: Evanston school closures
Author: STAFF HERE WASHINGTON DC
WASHINGTON DC STAFF WRITER The WASHINGTON DC STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWashingtonDC.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Washington, DC, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and regional news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Kennedy Center Honors, and the Washington Auto Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Washington Board of Trade and Destination DC, plus leading businesses in government contracting and technology that power the local economy such as Lockheed Martin and Amazon. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic landscape of the Washington metropolitan area.
