News Summary
Evanston/Skokie District 65 may close up to four schools by the 2026-2027 school year to address a significant budget shortfall. A combination of declining enrollment, currently at 65% capacity, and the need for $188 million in repairs have led to this difficult decision. The district is involving the community in discussions about potential closures through budget reduction committees and public input sessions. The board is set to present potential closure scenarios soon, aiming for community feedback before final decisions are made.
Evanston – Evanston/Skokie District 65 is facing significant financial challenges that could lead to the closure of up to four schools by the 2026-2027 school year. This measure is a part of the Structural Deficit Reduction Plan (SDRP) the district is implementing to address a projected budget shortfall of between $10 million to $15 million by the end of the 2027 fiscal year.
The potential school closures coincide with the scheduled opening of the new Foster School in the Fifth Ward. As the district grapples with financial constraints, declining enrollment has resulted in elementary schools operating at less than 60% capacity. This stark reduction in student numbers has necessitated the need for budget cuts and has left many district buildings in disrepair, with approximately $188 million worth of repairs and deferred maintenance required.
During a community meeting, the school board’s President and Vice President addressed these pressing challenges and expressed the difficulties in making closure decisions. To help navigate these complex issues, the district has organized three budget reduction committees focusing on finance, facilities, and programs. These committees consist of a mix of parents, caregivers, community members, and district staff, all providing input in the SDRP process.
The board plans to present various scenarios regarding potential school closures on September 29, although no final decisions are expected at that meeting. Actual implementation of any closures will not occur until late October at the earliest. To gather community input before making any final decisions, four public input sessions, alongside an online survey, are scheduled for mid-October.
Evaluations for the potential school closures will consider five primary categories: geography, equity, building cost, building functionality, and building income. The geographic category, which holds the highest weight in evaluations, will factor in walkability, safe routes to school, transportation needs, and proximity to other schools. In terms of equity, the assessment will focus on how closures could affect various student demographics and their educational experiences.
The building cost category will analyze operational expenses and any necessary renovations for each school, while building functionality will consider accessibility and potential revenue opportunities for school properties. A scorecard evaluating each school will be presented at the school board meeting, classifying the schools based on the outlined evaluation criteria.
The board must conduct multiple hearings regarding any closure decisions, which do not expect to conclude before November. Previous closure scenarios that circulated, which originated from a finance committee presentation, are not final and merely represent ideas still under consideration. The district is emphasizing the importance of community engagement in the decision-making process and is welcoming feedback on the potential closure scenarios.
As part of the district’s ongoing budgetary adjustments, the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies will be closed at the end of the current school year. This decision has prompted emotional reactions from students and parents alike during the first day of school. Furthermore, the district has implemented a new cellphone policy designed to minimize distractions, requiring students to store their phones during school hours unless there is a documented medical need.
The significantEnrollment decline of 20% since 2018 has adversely affected the district’s financial health, currently resulting in buildings operating at just 65% capacity. Despite the impending school closures, district leaders have reported a decrease in deficit estimates for the current fiscal year, though considerable financial challenges remain.
As the community awaits the upcoming board meeting on September 29, all eyes are on the potential scenarios involving the closure of two to four schools, a decision that stands to reshape the educational landscape for the Evanston/Skokie area.
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Additional Resources
- Evanston RoundTable: District 65 School Closure Evaluations
- Wikipedia: Evanston, Illinois
- ABC7 Chicago: District 65 Students Head Back Monday
- Google Search: D65 School Closures
- Evanston RoundTable: District 65 on Leaked School Closure Data
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Evanston Skokie School District 65
- Evanston Now: D65 Sets Decision Day for School Closings
- Google News: Evanston School Closures
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