The Interim Superintendent for Evanston/Skokie School District 65, Eric Witherspoon, faced a challenging task as he addressed a crucial financial issue at the district’s board meeting on October 13. The district is dealing with a significant deficit and requires tough decisions to ensure future stability.
Witherspoon outlined a proposal that includes reducing the district’s 2028 fiscal year budget by about $20 million. This plan involves closing Lincolnwood Elementary School and Dewey Elementary School at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Additionally, the district is contemplating ending the School Age Child Care program (SACC) and relinquishing Head Start and Early Head Start programming by July 2028.
The PreSchool for All program will remain active, funded by a state grant. Cutting SACC and early childhood programs would result in minimal savings, as these programs cost roughly $1.95 million and $4.9 million respectively, with fees paid by parents mitigating potential savings to under $2 million annually, according to administrators.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Beardsley noted, “We do not see a viable pathway to get the [SACC] program to break even, which is what District 65 needs to continue it.”
Unless retained, costs would increase by 35% for parents, with few districts managing their childcare services internally.
Following the closure of Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies and Kingsley Elementary, which saved an estimated $3 million yearly, additional consolidations are deemed necessary, said Beardsley. Unlike Bessie Rhodes and Kingsley, Dewey and Lincolnwood campuses will remain district properties for future construction, thus avoiding sale or repurposing.
Beardsley stated that retaining these properties facilitates future construction work at the sites with minimal disruption to student learning or use as temporary sites during renovations elsewhere.
Decisions to close Lincolnwood and Dewey are driven by enrollment trends and feeder patterns, with Haven Middle School experiencing a 33% enrollment decline. Though Dewey feeds into Nichols Middle School, which also saw a 33% reduction, the plan would force redistricting and affect 713 students, with 329 students identifying as marginalized.
The closures are predicted to save approximately $2.9 million annually and $58 million over two decades.
No specific staffing cuts were detailed, yet over 200 positions are slated for elimination, given employee compensation and benefits account for 75% of the annual budget.
Additions to student fees and cost-cutting measures across technology and transportation services were discussed, with a goal of securing early registration for reductions.
Interim Superintendent Witherspoon acknowledged the difficulty the proposal posed but emphasized its necessity for moving the district out of deficit financing.
Board member discussions underlined the severity of the financial situation and reiterated a structural solution for a structural problem. The proposal sparked discontent among parents, with concerns over Dewey Elementary’s closure, as it was not on previous closure consideration lists.
Community members questioned the speed and transparency of the decision-making process, urging delays for further analysis before the final vote. The Board plans to vote on the proposal in November, followed by hearings for each school slated for closure.