News Summary
District 65 in Evanston, Illinois, is confronting severe financial challenges due to declining enrollment and consecutive budget deficits. The school board is considering the closure of underutilized schools, starting with the announcement of Dr. Bessie Rhodes School closing after the 2025-2026 school year. Public hearings are mandated to gather community input on potential closures, with an aim to implement decisions by July 2026. The district seeks to cut $10 million to $15 million from its budget while ensuring equity for marginalized students.
Evanston, Illinois – District 65 is grappling with significant financial challenges as falling enrollment numbers and consecutive budget deficits loom over the school district. A potential vote later this autumn may lead to the closure of one or more schools, marking a crucial step in the district’s efforts to enhance its financial situation and consolidate underutilized classrooms.
The school board is set to receive an update on its structural deficit reduction plan during a meeting on Monday, where members will carefully assess the ongoing fiscal issues. Recently, the district announced that the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies will close after the 2025-2026 school year, signifying an initial move in what could be a larger trend of school closures.
Before any final decisions are made regarding school closures, the district must hold three public hearings under state law to gather community input. Evaluating a potential school closure involves multiple criteria, such as equity, geography, building functionality, and the projected revenue from the sale of school buildings. A Facilities Subcommittee has already visited all District 65 schools to inform their decision-making process.
Geographical factors are among the highest weighted criteria used for evaluating school closures. The distance that students must walk to school is a prominent concern, with a maximum distance of 0.75 miles considered optimal. The district aims to ensure that any changes do not disproportionately affect marginalized student groups, including Black students and English language learners, as part of their equity considerations.
Of note, the average age of a District 65 school is approximately 79 years, with many facilities facing overdue repairs and accessibility challenges. Closing underutilized schools is viewed as a strategy not only to address these issues but also to cut approximately $10 million to $15 million from the budget, as the district seeks financial stability following years of budgetary struggles dating back to 2003.
To ensure adequate community engagement, District 65 has planned community meetings for September and November. These sessions will allow residents to provide feedback before any final decisions on closures are made. The goal is to implement any school closures by July 1, 2026, in alignment with the opening of the new Foster School.
Concern about financial sustainability in District 65 has intensified as the district continues to navigate declining enrollment and persistent budget deficits. The potential school closures represent a decisive move aimed at realigning the district’s operational capacity with its current financial realities. Through this process, District 65 hopes to emerge on a path toward improved fiscal health and enhanced educational offerings for its students.
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Additional Resources
- Evanston Roundtable: Potential School Closures in District 65
- Wikipedia: Evanston, Illinois
- Chicago Tribune: Closure of Four Schools in District 65
- Google Search: District 65 Evanston School Closures
- Evanston Now: D65 Seeking Public Input on School Closings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: District 65 Evanston
- Daily Northwestern: D65 School Consolidation Criteria
- Google News: District 65 Evanston
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