Evanston School District Considers Closures Amid Financial Crisis

Categories: National School NewsWeather Delays/Cancellations

An empty school building reflecting the challenges faced by Evanston School District.

News Summary

The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board may soon vote on closing several schools to address a financial crisis marked by declining enrollment and budget deficits. With a fourth deficit anticipated for fiscal year 2026, the board is exploring possible consolidations. A scheduled public meeting will gather community input before making final decisions. School closures, targeted for effectiveness by the next summer, will consider various criteria, including equity and building functionality.

Evanston — The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education may soon vote to close several schools in advance of the next academic year as part of an effort to address a financial crisis that has led to falling enrollment and consecutive budget deficits. The vote could potentially take place this fall, with closures effective next summer to coincide with the anticipated opening of the new Foster School.

The district is currently grappling with three consecutive budget deficits, and a fourth is projected for fiscal year 2026. In light of these financial challenges, the school board is considering school closures as a viable strategy to consolidate underutilized classrooms and improve the district’s overall financial health.

To date, the school board has not made any determinations regarding specific schools slated for closure, aside from the previously approved closure of the K-8 Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies after the 2025-2026 academic year. As part of the process, Illinois state law requires that the school board conduct three public hearings to gather community input prior to finalizing any closure decisions.

The first of these informational meetings is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the board room at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center. During this meeting, board members will discuss potential school closure scenarios that have been developed by committees composed of community volunteers and district staff. While board members could vote on these scenarios during the meeting, they are not required to do so.

A November deadline has been established to facilitate public hearings and ensure a final vote occurs before winter break. District 65’s Chief Financial Officer indicated that if discussions around potential closures do not take place during the initial meeting, they will be included in future agendas.

In assessing which schools may be closed, several criteria will be utilized, including geographic location, the equity impact on marginalized student populations, the functionality of school buildings, and the potential financial ramifications of closures. Committees focused on Facilities, Finance, and Student Programs met bi-monthly from April through June 2024 to develop these criteria.

The district is aiming for a budget reduction of between $10 million to $15 million due to its ongoing financial struggles, which have already necessitated cuts of around $20 million in previous budget cycles. Factors influencing the decision on potential closures include the walkability of schools for students, equity considerations for historically marginalized groups, the need for building repairs, and the overall functionality of school facilities.

Overall, the financial condition of District 65 has been troubled over the years, with patterns of budgetary difficulties noted as far back as 2003. The school board’s ongoing discussions and planned meetings will seek to engage the community and incorporate feedback before making any final decisions regarding school closures.