Evanston/Skokie District 65 Considers Possible School Closures

News Summary

The Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board held a four-hour meeting to discuss potential school closures amid budget deficits and declining enrollment. They are considering closing two to four schools, with a decision expected in the fall. Assistant Superintendent presented a scoring system to evaluate closures, while discussions on maintenance needs and community feedback were also addressed. Academic performance metrics revealed significant challenges, and a new accountability framework is to be implemented. The board’s decisions will impact the district’s future in light of a 20% enrollment decline since 2018.

Evanston, Illinois – The Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board convened for an extensive meeting lasting over four hours to address critical issues regarding potential school closures amid a growing budget deficit and declining enrollment. The board is considering the closure of two to four schools, with a decision anticipated in the fall. Specific school buildings have yet to be identified, but preliminary discussions are set for the next board meeting on September 29 at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center.

During the meeting, Board President Sergio Hernandez emphasized the seriousness of the district’s Structural Deficit Reduction Plan, highlighting the financial pressures facing the district. The urgency of the budget constraints has necessitated a comprehensive evaluation of the district’s operations, resources, and current infrastructure.

To aid in the decision-making process, Assistant Superintendent Stacy Beardsley presented a scoring system to evaluate potential school closures. The school closure scenario scorecards will assess various factors, including geography, equity, building functionality, possible income from closures, and associated costs. This systematic approach aims to provide the board with a clearer understanding of which schools may be most affected by financial considerations.

With only an estimated 65% usage of its building capacity, the district is confronting a significant operational challenge, as projections show this figure could decrease to 58% with anticipated school openings and planned closures. The situation is exacerbated by approximately $200 million in deferred maintenance on district facilities, while only $2 million is currently earmarked annually for maintenance expenses.

In response to the identified maintenance needs, board members have suggested exploring a capital bond referendum to generate funding for repairs, although there are concerns about imposing further financial burdens on taxpayers. The discussions on potential closures are designed to incorporate community feedback, with four community meetings planned from October 14 to October 16, allowing residents to voice their opinions and concerns regarding the issue.

During the discussion, there was considerable debate about the inclusion of middle and magnet schools in the closure scenarios, which had previously been deemed off-limits in public talks. Notably, the district had voted in June 2024 to close the K-8 magnet Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies by the end of the current school year, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy.

The board also introduced a closure scorecard for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School, specifically due to its RISE program that serves students with disabilities. This approach indicates a nuanced consideration of the diverse needs present within the district’s student population.

Academic performance metrics were reviewed, revealing that only 54.6% of students met language arts standards, while 42.1% achieved math expectations on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) tests. New cut-off scores are projected to show a decrease in proficiency percentages, with expected results of 64.1% for language arts and 52.7% for math. In response to performance challenges, the district is transitioning from the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to the i-Ready tool for math assessments and Renaissance STAR for literacy evaluations.

A new accountability framework is also scheduled to be implemented, which includes quarterly performance updates, a public interactive data dashboard, and various scorecards aimed at tracking the district’s strategic goals. In addition, proposals for changes in transportation policy, such as reducing the number of crossing guards and implementing fee-based magnet school busing, are slated for discussion during the September 29 meeting.

This discussion regarding potential school closures and maintenance issues illustrates the ongoing financial difficulties faced by District 65, which has experienced a 20% decline in student enrollment since 2018. The outcome of the board’s evaluations and community input will significantly impact the future of the district and its facilities.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Vermont Advocates for Community Involvement in School Closures
District 65 Considers School Closures Amid Financial Struggles
Vallejo School District Faces Potential Closures Amid Declining Enrollment

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