In Evanston-Skokie District 65, plans to close certain schools are expected to be shelved for now. The school board in this north suburban area couldn’t reach a decision on which schools to close, leaving a multimillion-dollar funding gap unresolved.
During a meeting on Monday night, board members were once again split on the idea of closing one or two more schools at the end of the current academic year. As a result, the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies remains the only school likely to close next spring.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
For the second month in a row, board members were divided over plans to either shut down Kingsley Elementary School alone or both Kingsley and Lincolnwood elementary schools. This ongoing uncertainty has left many community members frustrated, including a local psychologist who spoke out.
Dr. David Hauser, a parent with two children in the district, commented, “Consider the experiences adults have faced since 2016—that’s the entire life span for these kids. They don’t need more instability. Discussing school closures like business decisions disregards the real experiences of these K-5 students.”
The board did unanimously decide against a proposal that would have closed both Kingsley and Willard elementary schools.
Due to the persistent deadlock, it’s unlikely any closures will happen this year. Illinois law mandates that three public hearings be held for each school slated for closure, and these must occur by the start of the winter break, which commences after December 19.
Proposed closures are part of the district’s Structural Deficit Reduction Plan, which will involve approximately $11-$15 million in budget cuts before fiscal year 2030.
