News Summary
The District 65 School Board in Evanston held a lengthy meeting to address pressing issues such as potential school closures, budget deficits, and declining student enrollment. An examination of evaluation criteria for closing schools was a significant topic, alongside concerns about maintenance needs. The board plans community meetings to gather public input on closure scenarios while recognizing the importance of fiscal responsibility amid ongoing challenges. With a significant maintenance backlog and enrollment drop, the district’s efforts to balance budget constraints and educational needs are crucial.
Evanston
The District 65 School Board in Evanston held a comprehensive meeting lasting over four hours to address critical issues facing the district, including potential school closures, budget deficits, and declining student enrollment. The discussions centered around evaluating criteria for closing schools, analyzing test scores, and addressing maintenance needs amid ongoing fiscal challenges.
Discussion of School Closures and Future Voting
The board president acknowledged the importance of the district’s Structural Deficit Reduction Plan, emphasizing the need to address budget shortfalls. While decisions on specific school closures are not imminent, votes are anticipated in the fall. The upcoming board meeting scheduled for September 29 at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center will present preliminary closure scenarios for community feedback, but no official decisions will be made at that time.
The district adjusted its meeting schedule to facilitate community input and to ensure meetings occur after family-teacher conferences. Following this, four community meetings are planned between October 14 and 16 to gather public opinions on potential school closures.
Evaluation Criteria and Closure Scenarios
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Beardsley explained how school closure scorecards will operate. These scorecards assess schools based on factors such as geography, equity, building functionality, potential income from closures, and costs. The board discussed including between two and four schools in various scenarios, with some options considering zero or only one closure.
There was debate over whether to include middle or magnet schools in closure plans. Notably, middle schools had previously been excluded from public discussions, but the district finalized plans to close the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies—a K-8 magnet school—at the end of this academic year. Additionally, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School was identified for potential closure based on a scorecard, due to the RISE program that serves students with disabilities.
Addressing Maintenance and Budgeting Concerns
On the fiscal front, the district is grappling with an estimated $200 million in deferred maintenance needs across its buildings. Currently, only $2 million annually is allocated to maintenance costs, falling short of what is needed to sustain facilities. To bridge this gap, a capital bond referendum was proposed as a funding solution; however, some board members expressed reservations about increasing taxpayer burdens without first implementing responsible budget management.
Utilization and Academic Performance Measures
The district currently operates at approximately 65% building capacity, a figure projected to decline to 58% when future school openings and cancellations are included. This low utilization highlights challenges related to enrollment declines.
Preliminary Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) scores indicated that 54.6% of students met language arts standards and 42.1% met math expectations. However, with updated cut-off scores, proficiency levels are revised to 64.1% for language arts and 52.7% for math. The district is transitioning from the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to i-Ready for math assessments and Renaissance STAR for literacy testing.
In addition, the district plans to introduce a new accountability framework that includes quarterly progress updates, a publicly accessible interactive data dashboard, and various scorecards tracking strategic goals.
Transportation and Policy Changes
While details were limited, the discussion touched on proposed transportation policy adjustments such as reducing crossing guards and introducing fee-based busing for magnet schools. These proposals are scheduled for vote on September 29.
Ongoing Challenges and Context
The ongoing review of school closures and maintenance reflects the district’s efforts to address its financial difficulties. Since 2018, District 65 has experienced a 20% decline in student enrollment, intensifying pressure on budgets and facilities. The district’s efforts to balance fiscal responsibility with educational needs continue as it navigates these complex issues.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Vermont City Engages Community in School Closure Planning
Philadelphia School Board Addresses SEPTA Cuts and Charter Closures
District 65 Evaluates School Closures Due to Financial Issues
Vallejo School District Faces Potential Closures Due to Budget Deficits
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Considers School Closures
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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