News Summary
The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 is considering closing up to four school buildings by the upcoming school year due to financial struggles linked to declining enrollment. The Structural Deficit Reduction Plan aims to cut up to $15 million from the budget. Community engagement is underway, with committees formed to gather input before final decisions are made. The district faces significant maintenance challenges, estimated at $188 million, and recent enrollment figures indicate a 20% decrease since 2018, prompting urgent evaluations of school facilities.
Evanston, IL — The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 is facing significant financial challenges, prompting plans that may result in the closure of up to four school buildings by the 2026-2027 school year. This decision is part of a broader Structural Deficit Reduction Plan (SDRP), primarily driven by declining enrollment, which has reduced elementary school capacity to less than 60%. The district aims to cut between $10 million to $15 million from its budget by the 2027 fiscal year to rectify ongoing financial constraints.
The district is preparing for the opening of a new Foster School in the Fifth Ward, coinciding with potential school closures. The situation is underpinned by a pressing maintenance backlog—approximately $188 million in repairs are needed for the current infrastructure, highlighting the urgency for budgetary changes and facility evaluations.
Community Engagement and Decision-Making Process
President Sergio Hernandez and Vice President Nichole Pinkard of the school board have actively engaged the community regarding the challenges associated with the potential closures. To navigate these decisions, the district has established three budget reduction committees that include parents, caregivers, community members, and district staff. These committees will provide valuable input throughout the SDRP process.
Scenarios outlining potential closures will be presented to the school board during a meeting on September 29. However, no final decisions will be reached at that time, as the evaluation of these scenarios will begin no earlier than late October. Furthermore, the board must conduct several public hearings, which may stretch into November, before any votes on closures can occur.
Public Input Opportunities
In an effort to foster community involvement, four public input sessions along with an online survey are scheduled for mid-October. These initiatives will allow the community to share feedback on the proposed scenarios for school closures. Evaluations will focus on five key categories: geography, equity, building cost, building functionality, and building income.
Evaluation Criteria for School Closures
The geographic category, which holds the most significant weight in evaluations, will consider aspects such as walkability, safety, transportation needs, and proximity to nearby schools. The equity assessment will evaluate how closures might impact different demographic groups within the district. Financial evaluations will scrutinize operational expenses and ascertain what renovations each school requires.
Building functionality will involve reviewing the accessibility of school facilities and potential revenue opportunities that each site could generate. Scorecards categorizing each of the schools based on these evaluation criteria will be shared during the September 29 school board meeting, offering insight into the assessment process.
Recent Developments and Financial Context
In light of the financial landscape, it is noteworthy that the district has experienced a 20% enrollment decrease since 2018, contributing to the excess capacity in current buildings, which are only operating at about 65% capacity overall. The board is also addressing immediate budgetary concerns, reporting a reduction in deficit estimates for the current fiscal year, although long-term financial challenges remain.
In addition to school closures, the district has already announced the closure of the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies at the end of this school year due to similar budget issues and declining enrollment. The anticipated closure has generated emotional responses from parents and students alike as they navigate the first day of school under these tense circumstances.
As District 65 continues to address its financial difficulties, the community’s participation will be critical in shaping the future of the school district. The involvement of parents, caregivers, and stakeholders through public input sessions will play a vital role in how decisions are made regarding school closures and budget reductions.
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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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