[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6368550,"mediaKeyId","2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c","parentId",2157029,"title","Board approves Foster School change order for site work; transition committee to post principal search with July 2025 start","audioSeconds",744,"startMs",4622000,"endMs",5366000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c&start=4622&end=5366","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c/thumbnail_4622000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6368550/Illinois/Board-approves-Foster-School-change-order-for-site-work-transition-committee-to-post-principal-search-with-July-2025-start","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368550-be02d88523d22bf609e483947812b6a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776317158&Signature=CASZsWeYjNm1yBk5VyB0b3kKk~Vlin56BFfWeEFyYOIzV-4inosZUwlRidCSTdbO2RZMpvYocOPt6kTscURGwEunt08VkKqWBCWnHC~vxOqeDQCjpfCpHUBdXSeY7LdYftgorRwSEOEnPPBTy3serf6ExFJhGHIthMQ2TKwh0Ufgwug6VmtHICoNPDe7Sj~lExxgITm0cVRz77VKHucW4t~E-1NiQUFTpovpVVxmPct-ZOI8NDHHBeRf0EO51DyxO6HjP1QZsZff49yPhspZSOusylL4k7k1N-Q9cWTIGvCsO1gVyjsdGaFtyJf9OdfN7SphKChkSAarjVPpwtFpqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Evanston CCSD 65","date","2025-01-28T15:48:09Z","article","The Evanston CCSD 65 board approved a change order Jan. 27 for a contract with John Kino and Company to provide additional stone aggregate and related site work at the Foster School construction site. Construction staff told the board the change was necessary after heavy equipment encountered unstable soils; moving some work earlier and using recycled concrete reduced unit costs and kept the overall project budget intact.

Owner’s representative Ben Cogan and contractor representatives outlined progress: concrete foundation work for the elevator shaft is underway, bid group 3 came in about $3.5 million under budget, and the overall project budget remains at $48.5 million with roughly 90% of the budget under contract.

Brian Kronrider (construction manager) and other staff said the additional aggregate was originally planned for a later bid package (bid group 6) but had to be applied sooner so heavy equipment would have a stable working pad. The district and contractor financed the work through existing allowances and borrowing from bid package 6 so the change order did not increase the project’s overall budget. Kronrider described the order as “critical to move along as essential to both the schedule and the work and the safety of the equipment.”

The board voted unanimously to approve the change order resolution for the John Kino and Company contract. Trustees also received a project schedule update: precast wall installation is planned for March–April with preparatory work ongoing; staff visited the precast plant in Germantown, Wisconsin to review the fabrication process; and ongoing building‑information modeling meetings are coordinating trades and shop drawings.

Separately, Dr. Charmika McCoy, chair of the Foster School transition committee, reported the committee has met four times and will post the principal position the week of the board meeting. The district plans to interview candidates in March and bring finalists to the board in April for approval; the new principal would begin a year early on July 1, 2025, to oversee planning and the school’s startup activities.

The change order vote and transition timeline were part of the meeting’s construction update and were accompanied by detailed budget and schedule slides in the board packet.

Action taken
- Approved change order regarding the contract with John Kino and Company for additional aggregate/site work at Foster School (unanimous).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","[1/27/25] D65 - School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board unanimously approved a change order for John Kino and Company to add aggregate and complete site work that became necessary after contractors encountered unstable soils at the Foster School site; project staff said the work is covered by allowances and will not increase the overall project budget.","taxTitle","Evanston CCSD 65, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",50856,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6368555,"Parents and staff press board to save school‑age childcare; board approves summer learning and asks administration to redesign SACC",8188,3618000,11806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c&start=3618&end=11806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c/thumbnail_3618000.jpg","/articles/6368555/Illinois/Parents-and-staff-press-board-to-save-schoolage-childcare-board-approves-summer-learning-and-asks-administration-to-redesign-SACC","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368555-d1aef8367188809b119603a73b939124/orig.mp4?Expires=1776317158&Signature=ARlPfeeUQ0icnkRLFAdMWe~l8QFhDR3LEky3vTQUU~f1RuNetdEJ8aaxihYudkVU0VszWUwjWpaGyp0A4ITb7USqCMCwKLz-uPCRfPnoET9xkKgMb2jXZ5LCDsARTBVxCpw3jOBBPHi9Wn0CRBdKfepuq9CHhyqOXrmVnBAUKOGMHw3vcSotUxdtd9Qjf5X~qcACM6pNHnBfvBaj2CGs-ghDS5i3P1xZL3Wx9HhgMOxn4FwNhoI3uM4mfM00Vt4gINEstHfl-u05gp83cP23TtVdEjOsOdLDnvbMGMhafoF8UzSeh6psfNh3KmlXs268PFdHpRMbjDOSqfu6fk6HvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evanston CCSD 65 heard more than a dozen public commenters Jan. 27 urging the school board not to cut the district’s school‑age childcare program and to preserve early childhood and summer supports for working families. After public comment and a lengthy board discussion, trustees approved the administration’s summer learning plan and directed staff to reimagine the summer school‑age childcare program, asking for a clearer plan and budget before finalizing the summer SACC operations.

The board unanimously approved the 2025 summer learning proposal (estimated cost $528,000). Separately, trustees approved a motion to proceed with a variation of “option 1” for summer school‑age childcare and asked administration to return quickly with a reimagined, sustainable model and clearer cost and staffing details.

Speakers representing District 65 educators and parents described SACC as essential for working families and for children with special needs who rely on the program’s continuity and specialized support. Dr. Tricia Baker, DEC union president, warned that district decisions affecting staff should be made consistent with the district’s core values and noted the anxiety reductions would cause. Instructional coach Emily Castillo urged the board to “keep students at the center” and to prioritize staff who work closest to students.

Liza Faulconer, a speech‑language pathologist, highlighted the early childhood center’s integrated services (Head Start, Preschool for All, and SEED), saying proposed general‑education transportation cuts would harm families who rely on midday busing to access half‑day preschool programs.

Natalie Copper, president of the local association EACCP and a longtime SACC coordinator, asked that the district place her full written presentation in the record and described the program’s long history of serving families. “That bill has not been paid… the enrollment cost alone for a minimum of 7 students was $12,600,” Copper said, describing an outstanding reimbursement the program had expected from the district. Several parents and staff echoed concerns about lost revenue, staffing burdens, and the program’s role supporting families with work schedules that fall outside typical business hours.

Board members said they wanted a sustainable plan rather than an abrupt termination. Administrators outlined options to reduce SACC costs, including shortening the number of weeks, moving from two shifts to a single shift, adjusting operating hours, raising fees and using a sliding scale for families on income‑based subsidies, and aligning staffing to DCFS ratios where possible. District staff said many of the program’s expenses (staff time, custodial overtime, transportation and food) drive the cost structure and must be addressed to make the program self‑sustaining.

The board voted to approve the summer learning plan as presented and to adopt a motion directing administration to return with a revised SACC proposal (a “variation of option 1”) that preserves summer childcare while reducing district subsidy and showing a path to financial self‑sustainability. Several trustees also asked the administration to survey families and coordinate with community partners to expand before/after‑school options and to explore siting options (for example, at the Early Childhood Center) that could reduce transportation costs.

Quotes from public commenters reflected the breadth of the appeal: “The heart of education lies in the schools where children learn, grow, and are supported, not in the offices that have grown into an empire,” Emily Castillo told the board. Natalie Copper said SACC staff “worked extra hours…to keep our children safe” during earlier emergency operations and asked to be included in planning conversations. Parents including Melissa Fitsloff and Celia Gardner described SACC as a “trusted partner” that allowed them to work and keep their children in a safe, consistent environment.

The board’s decision preserves a district‑run summer learning program this year while requiring the administration to produce a clearer, cost‑recovery plan for SACC and to return with specifics on hours, fees and staffing models in the near term.","Following multiple public comments urging retention of the district’s school‑age childcare (SACC) program, the board approved a $528,000 summer learning plan and asked staff to return with a revised, financially sustainable SACC model rather than eliminate the program immediately.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6368562,"Evanston CCSD 65 board approves $13.3 million in reductions, cuts 73 positions",3233,5743000,8976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c&start=5743&end=8976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157029-53ccb6b5197296974192056474d1605c/thumbnail_5743000.jpg","/articles/6368562/Illinois/Evanston-CCSD-65-board-approves-133-million-in-reductions-cuts-73-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368562-e27e856af458b87adf1424a440819a89/orig.mp4?Expires=1776317158&Signature=AHg0bEVXed5vsOTlcY0mT4mNToWLKzMftIm3eQ4lgjwQ-pgfuuB63PhU8LCepx9ECk1bPtZEA85gA7Xb2Sh1MA8lC-52yTVsuSqHyzPiUtD0cImAtle5dfXtufWHX~25SNh0loLVD9PNvk3FAxHIbjadiSwXPF8IzyVEYBY7gkvDqaa1PoIQ2l5HBcZRygGOtfQfvc5y-OsC4EtS5-mTgRho7cBexZZt3d3ePBXw9ykuR5FavZZS0Q4nB50CnKS3YP5hJhoLy6loqfV9n1z1vtOUgr0N-sukUNhgNvbu6MpMZcDrPWyG2tJEY3wP5UiAushFRRJJ5unuFG7JUYJupA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Evanston CCSD 65 Board of Education voted Jan. 27 to adopt the administration’s recommended structural deficit reduction plan (scenario 2), a package of cuts intended to close about $13.3 million and eliminate 73 full‑time equivalent positions. The motion passed by roll call vote, with all board members voting yes.

Superintendent Dr. Turner told the board the recommendation was shaped to “minimize impact to our students” while meeting the district’s $13.2 million reduction target. The plan keeps several student‑facing services in place while reducing central office positions and non‑personnel spending.

The district presented a set of line‑item changes the board weighed before the vote. Major elements of scenario 2 include: a reduction of 26 central‑office FTEs; school‑level section reductions reduced from the previously proposed 22 to 18 sections; elimination of the previously proposed pre‑K transportation cut; a combined reduction to the academic skills center and summer learning programs of roughly $1.0 million; a transportation reduction of about $2.3 million (other than the pre‑K item); a 10% reduction in supplies (about $432,000); and a 5% reduction in “other objects” (about $370,000). The school‑level non‑direct‑instruction reductions total 29 FTEs under the adopted scenario.

“My recommendation to move forward with this board is scenario 2,” Dr. Turner said during the meeting. She and district staff described the recommendation as the result of cabinet deliberations, community engagement sessions, and a preliminary racial impact assessment (RIA) used to identify where mitigation should be focused. “The reality is you can’t really assess mitigation until you enact the actual changes,” Dr. Turner said, noting the district will continue to analyze and document equity impacts as implementation proceeds.

District staff from its external services (SES) team and administration explained tradeoffs and contingencies. Dr. Greg (SES) told the board the staff reduced the planned school‑level section closures from 22 to 18 after reviewing building‑level needs and capacities. Melissa Messenger, a district staff member who led stakeholder outreach for phase 2, said the district held multiple community and staff sessions and an online survey; turnout for phase 2 engagement was lower than for phase 1, but the feedback emphasized preserving student‑facing roles, wraparound services and small class sizes.

Board members pressed staff for detail on how dollar amounts tied to FTE totals were calculated and how reductions might affect special education, out‑of‑district placements and class sizes. The district said the FTE counts are based on current personnel data and that the dollar totals are derived from actual payroll and budget figures rather than averages. Staff also said they will attempt to limit immediate impacts to the most vulnerable students and preserve core instructional programs.

Board members repeatedly urged administrators to seek additional non‑personnel savings where feasible, for example by renegotiating vendor contracts and using cooperative purchasing. Several trustees also emphasized the heavy human impact of the cuts. “There are real people behind these numbers,” one board member said, urging compassion as the district implements the reductions.

The board approved the motion after more than two hours of discussion. Implementation work begins immediately if the board’s decision is to stand; the administration said it would coordinate bargaining‑unit notifications, building‑level workload analyses, and mitigation planning in the weeks before July 1, 2025, when many reductions would take effect.

Votes at a glance
- Adopt structural deficit reduction plan (scenario 2): passed (unanimous).","After hours of public comment and debate, the Evanston CCSD 65 Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt a district plan to cut $13.3 million and eliminate 73 full‑time equivalents, prioritizing classroom staff and some student supports while reducing central office roles and several district programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Foster School change order for site work; transition committee to post principal search with July 2025 start

Parents and staff press board to save school‑age childcare; board approves summer learning and asks administration to redesign SACC

Evanston CCSD 65 board approves $13.3 million in reductions, cuts 73 positions