[{"_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",6124312,"mediaKeyId","2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64","parentId",2685720,"title","Board approves principal hire, audit, contracts and fiscal measures at March 17 Evanston CCSD 65 meeting","audioSeconds",131,"startMs",2554000,"endMs",2685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64&start=2554&end=2685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64/thumbnail_2554000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124312/Illinois/Board-approves-principal-hire-audit-contracts-and-fiscal-measures-at-March-17-Evanston-CCSD-65-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124312-b5e7e71841fa908930b713b330af9a31/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191562&Signature=G2Nx6C2Dolt2MhXzQ~vH8HGZyxa-Ff4Z1Fr84yqHkzVtRspjF6NkaEurkLlbI1wmnHvhL1Gy37ze5CL1QF89qGLP5XwpgAD1eokTpVP~B6kBwAike3~Oqcu5uoZamn8wEibeMvp~N2WA6gyRT~FU7RokS041gNr2sEjpGa2UaveY5edCKRE1hFbkza5TKRiMUtCPFkKVu8Wux6TaItVJADSHb7IX3m6u~622t0tSxXBdQ7kPDbvyh9iYBej9sWQR1DAilLTEB3cr0UoN9BwqBViA8L1G4t5oyWQxboL6VUrtlLmGW6MyYirzFjUEW-OWkFYqkan1gpsivc3MbWN4AQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Evanston CCSD 65","date","2025-03-18T12:39:19Z","article","The Evanston CCSD 65 Board of Education recorded a series of formal actions at its March 17 meeting, approving a principal contract, multiple vendor contracts, a working-cash abatement and the FY24 financial audit.

Principal hire: The board voted to approve and authorize the board president to sign a contract with the candidate listed in the meeting materials as Ann Reuben Schneider to serve as principal of Schute Middle School, effective July 1, 2025. The motion passed on roll call with all members recorded as voting yes.

Working-cash abatement: The board adopted a resolution abating the working cash fund in the amount of $915,609.67. The motion passed by roll call; no dissent was recorded.

Contracts approved (select items listed in board materials):
- Sonitrol: $64,502.50 for safety monitoring systems (approved)
- Emeritus Healthcare Staffing: $125,000 for temporary staffing at ECC and Family Center (approved)
- True North Consultants Inc.: $49,925 for planned asbestos abatement activities (approved)
- Dr. Lindsey Sabielny: $13,500 for consulting on students with autism spectrum disorder (approved)
- Spotter staffing (temporary staff to meet IEP requirements): $126,000 (approved; Hilburn voted no, others yes)
- AgileBytes Inc. (1Password): $32,946 for staff password manager (approved)

Nonrenewal/honorable dismissal: The board approved a resolution authorizing the nonrenewal of administrative contracts and honorable dismissal of administrative staff; the motion passed by roll call.

Building use fees: The board approved the proposed building-use fees for fiscal year 2026 (policy 8-20 as amended); discussion clarified that groups classified as 1A/1B are exempt from rental fees during work hours, but may be charged for custodial or supervisory staff when events fall outside standard work hours.

FY24 financial audit: The board approved the FY24 financial audit as presented.

Votes and tallies: Most motions passed unanimously on roll call. Where roll-call exceptions were recorded, the spotter-staffing contract recorded one \"no\" vote from Hilburn; the remainder of votes listed in the meeting minutes were recorded as \"yes.\" The board used standard roll-call procedure, with members voting in turn (Hilburn/Kilburn, Sue, Salem, Wilkins, Kim, Lindsey Ryan, Hernandez).

Ending: The board concluded business and adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","[3/17/25] D65 - School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 17 meeting the Evanston CCSD 65 board approved a principal contract for Schute Middle School, adopted a working-cash abatement, approved multiple contracts above $25,000, and accepted the FY24 financial audit; most motions passed by roll-call vote.","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},6124317,"Evanston CCSD 65 launches Phase 3 of school-reduction plan with three community subcommittees",145,2505000,2650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64&start=2505&end=2650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64/thumbnail_2505000.jpg","/articles/6124317/Illinois/Evanston-CCSD-65-launches-Phase-3-of-school-reduction-plan-with-three-community-subcommittees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124317-e11ce813fceb57c5c2fd89834da56037/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191562&Signature=crrSCg~mftyMzeyjIlLi9miRtZmSSgVPryIB~1qf-DgILEI66h6xIuR46x9WeEXMaaiLRdkV3A9VvJNl79XO9tzM0iUkX1V9cpUTqED~nxUo8sTD90DfRTf7Va3ugrZskd8N0wWYfOfO02BFc1koGqgYeD6oiK68y-3xhIH76syEskevKvaLmcXZuzCfR0hSuF3VKWTTnd9oRdk49Bjz7SllHowpTnoP1Uhyq-~HTaPUPCTI~2PKAZAPUWmCSl8cosuxYD3ZKqfwigrS39gVVr50XN2F69vzMAcy4PnY6NQNSDIkJxmUIU1n42l~flMLcIPQ8g92Ok8MeiirU-Ck4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evanston CCSD 65 announced the start of Phase 3 of its School District Reduction Plan (SDRP) during the March 17 board meeting, saying the work will focus on fiscal sustainability and could include evaluating school consolidations or closures.

The superintendent’s office said the Phase 3 process will be data-driven and will include public engagement through three subcommittees: finance, facilities and programs. \"Phase 3 is designed to be a thorough and data informed process,\" a district official said when summarizing the memo added to the board packet.

Why it matters: The subcommittees will review finances, building configurations and program placement as the district looks for sustainable options amid declining enrollment and fiscal pressures.

Details announced at the meeting include: applications for subcommittee membership are available on the district website; each subcommittee aims to recruit roughly 15–20 members; first meetings were scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 at 6 p.m.; meetings are planned to run biweekly for at least four sessions through May with some work possibly extending into June and a planned summer break before fall follow-up. Administrative leads named in the board summary include Dr. Beardsley (facilities lead), Dr. Speth (programs lead) and the district official who announced finance would lead that area with Dr. Harkin providing support.

The district said members of the school management team, early childhood, multilingual and RAD teams will support the subcommittees. The district committed to finalizing agendas and milestones for each subcommittee in the coming weeks and to updating the board on progress.

Ending: Board members asked staff to ensure meetings are accessible and well-publicized so community members can participate; the district reiterated that additional details and meeting links would be posted on the District 65 website.

","District officials said Phase 3 of the School District Reduction Plan (SDRP) will focus on fiscal sustainability and may consider consolidations; the board announced formation of three subcommittees (finance, facilities, programs) with public applications and April meeting dates.",{"_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},6124322,"Bessie Rhodes parents, staff urge Evanston CCSD 65 to reinstate assistant principal and restore Mandarin program",821,2627000,3448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64&start=2627&end=3448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685720-e23949ece87b78ad26ad5bf341053d64/thumbnail_2627000.jpg","/articles/6124322/Illinois/Bessie-Rhodes-parents-staff-urge-Evanston-CCSD-65-to-reinstate-assistant-principal-and-restore-Mandarin-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124322-14c199dd27598908b66c02a5692fed6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191562&Signature=ABca4PAHdYP0dwhOSJZggc1FTLer7aBIZiqCZ7HK~NT9qG-TLeeZoQ-WrnMlW2VKhTkf9zBS1bc00n3Nw0-WKjm7GAURomvl9PiwDznlUehzFK0930EaTlXo6ThSsY5Q1Z2F73VI3878X7VJM6I4TEII8TSu42ibDPL9mY6A7qZORap1nxOre4kim4oyXYCFt-JseKQ0mCUF2zi2YzI1nrB6bGe8qXLGkQDRR3dSBEwH6WDlYRjHF9RxvgVIzA6zBcyBqul7KrNGikq58QnikDVteRLcByQbG-29LAWoOA1cFyyQaRssH9ext4lvwn3mvz5~lezRhokUDCGISZufuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the March 17 meeting of the Evanston CCSD 65 Board of Education, parents and staff from Bessie Rhodes Elementary urged the board and superintendent to reverse the recent dismissal of assistant principal Sarah Antrim Graff (referred to in public comments as “Miss AG”) and to restore the school’s Mandarin language instruction.

The speakers said the cuts came with little communication and asked the board to prioritize stability for students as the district implements broader program changes. \"I found out it was gone from my second grader, after school, in the car ride home,\" Kate Odegaard, a Bessie Rhodes parent, said, describing how she learned the Mandarin program had been removed.

Why it matters: Commenters said the assistant principal and Mandarin teacher are central to Bessie Rhodes’ identity as a global-studies school and to day-to-day operations; they warned that removing those positions during a school closure process would harm students’ academic continuity and community trust.

Parents and staff detailed specific grievances at the board meeting. Melissa Rosenwag, a parent, asked that the board reinstate \"Miss AG\" and Mandarin teacher Dee Zhang, saying the assistant principal is \"a critical member of our school team\" and that Zhang’s lessons and cultural programming were a key reason families chose the school. Bridget Otter told the board there has been “a complete communication breakdown” and asked why families were not consulted before decisions were posted. \"Our children deserve better, and we demand better,\" Kate Odegaard said.

Several speakers described operational impacts they said would follow the personnel and program cuts: Molly Barriga, a Bessie Rhodes parent, said the assistant principal frequently stepped in to teach classes when staffing was short and worried that eliminating that role would increase instructional burdens on other staff. Peter Shank, a parent, tied the complaints about communication to broader concerns about district finances and controls, referencing the district’s recent audit language about an \"unlocated difference\" of $575,845.

Speakers also requested clearer, timely district communication when program changes are under consideration and more engagement with families before final decisions. Doria Han, speaking on behalf of a family member who taught Mandarin at the school, emphasized the cultural and cognitive benefits of early Mandarin instruction and asked the board to consider the program’s contributions to students’ language acquisition and cultural exposure.

The board did not take immediate action during the public-comment period; comments were submitted during the open-comment portion of the meeting and were entered into the public record. Several speakers asked the community to use upcoming board elections and direct contact with board members as mechanisms for change.

Ending: Board members acknowledged public comment but did not announce any immediate reversal of staffing or program decisions during the March 17 meeting. The district’s public comment instructions note the board does not typically respond during the comment period and directs constituents to schoolboard@district65.net for follow-up.","Multiple parents and staff at the March 17 District 65 meeting criticized the administration for dismissing assistant principal Sarah Antrim Graff and removing the Bessie Rhodes Mandarin program, saying families received little or no advance notice and asking the board to reinstate staff and preserve programming.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves principal hire, audit, contracts and fiscal measures at March 17 Evanston CCSD 65 meeting

Evanston CCSD 65 launches Phase 3 of school-reduction plan with three community subcommittees

Bessie Rhodes parents, staff urge Evanston CCSD 65 to reinstate assistant principal and restore Mandarin program