Evanston, IL, September 10, 2025
News Summary
The Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board recently met to address significant budget issues and declining student enrollment, leading to discussions about possible school closures. With a $200 million maintenance deficit and projected capacity drops, community meetings will seek input on closure scenarios before votes are expected in the fall. The board is exploring various factors for assessing schools, highlighting the impact on students and the financial roadmap ahead.
Evanston, IL — The Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board held an extensive meeting lasting over four hours to discuss pressing issues, including the potential closing of schools amid a significant budget deficit and declining student enrollment. Key discussions revolved around the district’s Structural Deficit Reduction Plan, highlighted by Board President Sergio Hernandez, who emphasized the need for serious consideration on this matter.
Votes regarding school closures are anticipated in the fall, but no specific schools have been identified for closure at this time. The next school board meeting is scheduled for September 29, at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center, where preliminary closure scenarios will be presented. However, board members clarified that no official votes will take place during this meeting.
To allow for community feedback and ensure stakeholder engagement, the meeting schedule has been adjusted to occur after family-teacher conferences. Four community meetings will be organized from October 14 to October 16 to gather public input regarding the potential closure of schools.
During the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Stacy Beardsley outlined how the school closure scenario scorecards will operate. These scorecards will assess schools based on multiple factors, including geography, equity, building functionality, potential income from closures, and associated costs. The board debated whether to center closure scenarios around two to four schools, with some options still considering no closures or just one.
The deliberations also included whether to involve middle or magnet schools in closure scenarios, despite previous public discussions ruling out middle schools. In June 2024, the district voted to close the K-8 magnet Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, effective at the end of the current school year.
The board agreed to create a closure scorecard for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School due to its RISE program catering to students with disabilities. Currently, the district is grappling with approximately $200 million in deferred maintenance on its buildings, while only $2 million is budgeted yearly for maintenance costs. This significant gap has raised discussions about launching a capital bond referendum to fund essential repairs. However, board members expressed concerns about requesting additional funding from taxpayers without demonstrating responsible budgeting first.
Presently, District 65 is only utilizing about 65% of its building capacity, a figure projected to decrease to 58% when factoring in upcoming school openings and planned closures. Preliminary results from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test showed that 54.6% of students met language arts standards, while only 42.1% met math expectations. New cut-off scores indicate an increase in proficiency requirements, with 64.1% for language arts and 52.7% for math.
The district is transitioning its assessment methods, moving away from the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to the i-Ready system for math and Renaissance STAR for literacy assessments. Additionally, a new accountability framework is set to be introduced, which will feature quarterly updates, a public interactive data dashboard, and various scorecards to track strategic goals.
Changes to transportation policies, including reducing crossing guards and implementing fee-based magnet school busing, were also mentioned; however, these proposals were not discussed in detail during the meeting. Votes on these transportation policies are expected on September 29.
The ongoing discussions regarding school closures and the district’s maintenance issues underscore the financial challenges facing District 65, which has experienced a 20% decline in its student population since 2018. As the board navigates these complex issues, community engagement and budgetary responsibilities remain critical to the district’s future.
FAQ
Why is the District 65 school board considering closing schools?
The board is responding to a significant budget deficit and declining enrollment, prompting discussions on the best course of action, which may include potential school closures.
When will decisions about school closures be made?
Votes on school closures are expected in the fall, but specific buildings have not yet been identified.
How will community members be involved in the decision-making process?
Four community meetings will be held from October 14 to 16 to gather public input on potential school closures.
What is the current capacity of District 65 schools?
District 65 is currently averaging 65% building capacity utilization, which could drop to 58% with future school openings and planned closures.
Key Features of School Closure Discussions
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| School Closure Votes | Expected in Fall 2024; specific buildings not yet identified |
| Next Board Meeting | September 29, 2024, at Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center |
| Community Meetings | October 14-16, 2024, for public input on closures |
| Deferred Maintenance | Approximately $200 million with only $2 million budgeted annually |
| Current School Capacity | 65% capacity usage, potentially dropping to 58% |
| Student Proficiency | 54.6% met language arts standards; 42.1% met math expectations |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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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
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