[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6219069,"mediaKeyId","3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c","parentId",3624129,"title","Municipal advisor outlines bond, refinancing and life‑safety options for District 65 capital needs","audioSeconds",1082,"startMs",11665000,"endMs",12747000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c&start=11665&end=12747","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c/thumbnail_11665000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219069/Illinois/Municipal-advisor-outlines-bond-refinancing-and-lifesafety-options-for-District-65-capital-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219069-91961532cbe93af8744e3b59592b885e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770595269&Signature=lBebz67lwtEYOb5sxtPDEQY7RiGydOEyQKKvcgep6LJISGznVJlBip6a11MQJ8uqZSkVBKpuFbrviw~QLfOGB7CmK5-F8-6E9SlEuLi6ntvKyhzIM0PgZgjKNQxtSdxroQ8YwUwpLnx5glrw43x52dS5ej09AxRvNiTYrQX4pJMYw-HS-irkuDmEsGQwC7Gn9tp69FH1L21vvP36SgLqVdBSVoBS4z4yc4mP9F~U0-si02uM0w7m3OzdV61KSZqz9Orw8SBsxkUzK-z8F7oq2gIIsYG4SCvfV75e7jGPXLisFCUWbECrdjHpeU1vc0hdVfq-eW4-PpnavsiancAnEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Evanston CCSD 65","date","2025-06-03T02:28:18Z","article","District municipal advisor Mr. Lewis (Lewis) presented a review of capital‑finance tools to the Finance Committee on June 2, laying out short‑term refinancing options and longer‑term paths for funding building projects, including life‑safety bonds, referendum building bonds and limiting‑rate (operating levy) increases.

Lewis said three near‑term decisions are available: (1) complete a public bond sale in late summer to refinance callable 2014 and 2015 capital‑appreciation (CAB) bonds at lower interest rates; (2) use part of the available non‑referendum debt authority to issue bonds to make a December 1, 2025 lease‑certificate payment that otherwise would be due from operating funds; and (3) monitor market conditions and structure a combined financing to maximize tax‑exempt savings. Lewis estimated net present‑value savings of roughly $750,000 from the combined refundings and reported that a separate refinancing of the 2015 series could yield estimated savings of about $300,000 (net present value). Transaction costs were included in the estimates.

The advisor cautioned about capital‑appreciation bonds: because CABs delay interest payments until maturity, refinancing them can create short‑term negative cash‑flow effects that must be managed within the district's Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB). Lewis explained that Cook County tax caps and an historical DSEB calculation limit the district's non‑referendum borrowing capacity (the district's current DSEB was cited as about $7.0 million). \"We could combine these financings into one sale,\" Lewis said, but timing and market conditions determine whether the refundings and the lease‑payment financing are cost‑effective.

For larger capital projects — including replacement of aging facilities or the Foster School project discussed earlier in committee materials — Lewis outlined four paths: referendum building bonds (voter approval required), life‑safety bonds (ISBE approval required, no referendum), increasing the DSEB by referendum (complex and infrequently used), and alternate revenue bonds or lease/debt certificates paid from operating funds (which can affect operations). He said life‑safety bonds carry the advantage that ISBE must approve eligible items and the bonds do not count against the DSEB, but cautioned that not all capital work qualifies as \"life safety.\" The advisor recommended that architects and staff identify which project elements would meet life‑safety criteria before choosing a financing path.

Board and staff asked for next steps: Lewis and administration agreed to prepare a parameters resolution for a potential August sale, to be presented to the board in June or August; staff will also return with exact figures for district debt service and timing so the board can decide whether to authorize a late‑summer bond sale. If the board approves a parameters resolution, administration noted, a public sale could follow in July–August with a closing in September.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","[6/2/25] D65 - Committee of the Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The district's municipal advisor recommended combining a refunding to capture estimated interest savings, issuing bonds to cover an upcoming lease‑certificate payment and exploring life‑safety bonds and referendum/limiting‑rate strategies for larger capital needs; staff will prepare a parameters resolution for the board.","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},6219075,"Teachers credit Foundation 65 grants with boosting student belonging and early‑learning outcomes",497,515000,1012000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c&start=515&end=1012","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c/thumbnail_515000.jpg","/articles/6219075/Illinois/Teachers-credit-Foundation-65-grants-with-boosting-student-belonging-and-earlylearning-outcomes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219075-a347b5cf5bfdc3cdb2a5f11ca1ead31c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770595269&Signature=AmBROiXgrm66pQJKxYFl97RoPzk-TM-SuuA31sfo0ny57JrcTkeWOzHYJgwNRBBjA2YbF3F9fr8iJFoG2vd9x5iT0m2L4vSDNJk4qAFRUGJ4gT9Ypywvw0aV6-vWK0SALjezxUqDUSUWdN87cocgq4dtlpks-lw6D4aBd~6kOVaw5trnDAUFEP9zdgcrF4OmMrCf-u4kv7dlMU5F9ndo32SHvWshs5ScRyvLTAcQaK-UTiChMRLgdkBuylb2Fmugb5kdRTgyGHaNFwA4wB978iRfVxsK69tJnxsCDm5wOH47d7SBW5IaGdMHuoD2tC0SBs9hT7hQ3vC4fkYsxye0mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 2 Committee of the Whole meeting, multiple teachers and Foundation 65's executive director spoke during public comment to highlight the nonprofit's grants that support teacher‑led programs in Evanston schools.

Alyssa Tran, a sixth‑grade special education math teacher at Shute Middle School, described a Foundation 65 grant that funded a Chute Wolfpack leadership cohort for middle‑school girls of color, a team‑building trip and materials that educators said fostered belonging and leadership. \"We noticed a change right away with the girls on the bus...on the way back, they weren't the same girls,\" Tran said.

Alyssa Zaravel, a kindergarten teacher at Kingsley Elementary, described a multi‑sensory materials grant that purchased tactile books, sensory jars, field trips to Wagner Farm and other tools; she said the pilot will expand into eight classrooms across four schools next year. \"Every single kindergartner in my class knew how to identify character, setting, problem and resolution in a story,\" Zaravel said.

Alicia Wortowski, executive director of Foundation 65, summarized the organization's priorities — learning interventions targeted at BIPOC students; family engagement projects; and programs that foster dignity, empathy and racial consciousness — and urged board members and community members to support the nonprofit's work through donations and sponsorships.

Board members thanked presenters and noted the presentations as public comment; no board action was taken.","Three District 65 educators and Foundation 65's executive director described grants that supported a girls leadership cohort, sensory‑rich kindergarten materials and family engagement projects; board thanked presenters but took no action.",{"_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},6219080,"District teachers and administrators propose weekly 40‑minute Monday early release for professional learning; district will survey families",407,7241000,7648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c&start=7241&end=7648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c/thumbnail_7241000.jpg","/articles/6219080/Illinois/District-teachers-and-administrators-propose-weekly-40minute-Monday-early-release-for-professional-learning-district-will-survey-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219080-99b89a1c24bccce8a1a9842e0e6c019e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770595269&Signature=oJ5aG0HAKWjvLSt4ne99sR0zKsjWb0BgGZizH00PNMgInKCJTP4dY6ibnsKquzbooMKIzGBa1Su8kHrKvjlc8doPlRUX2oCIBVSe--jgU-oGtY98NhmWCto-oI2YFl703HwU5Unkc6NXC2mLgBs6eCFaLzNRVcl-NJ3lOURhm4FPvbxU8-QV0CseFE69n~c9ZMCTpoNmSYjmm39W5FOfmAQuWt96q7SVBGjdDInwbGYFFv9am4YZcYR6JergbLhRDETQO8lR2sATL~gtl08PFx2N3WgR2yzOywUTKFrjuM~DZGlm8qwzcO8OOqmvUuz71U8yecUujYOc6Qlj3edT2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A district committee made up of teachers, union representatives and administrators presented a consolidated plan on June 2 for weekly professional learning that would replace the district's existing half‑day Wednesdays and twice‑monthly after‑school meetings. The group recommended a 40‑minute early release on Mondays for elementary, magnet, middle and Rice schools and a small set of full‑day releases for Park and JEH early‑childhood programs.

Committee members said the model increases regular team planning time while reducing the number of extended after‑school meetings. The proposal keeps four institute days annually but shifts one institute day into August (three pre‑service days) and schedules 31 weekly Monday sessions across the school year. \"We got to essentially this idea, what we think of as the secret sauce, which is a 40‑minute early release on Monday,\" said Chris Robinson, principal and a member of the committee.

A staff survey of district employees returned roughly 300 responses showing general support but flagged concerns, including paras' access to professional learning, after‑school child care for families on early‑release days, and scheduling for related services. The committee recommended continued negotiations with paraprofessionals' bargaining groups and coordination with community child‑care partners (for example, the YMCA and Right at School) to ensure Monday coverage; staff said some partners already run similar early‑release care at other districts.

Committee chairs said implementation would be staged. They proposed communicating options to families this summer, surveying parents about child‑care needs, and returning a finalizeable calendar for the 2026–27 school year once the board has reviewed the proposed calendar. \"We want to make sure families are hearing directly from us that this is a possibility for, again, not next school year, but the following school year,\" a committee chair said.

Board members asked staff to share a family‑facing communication and a schedule showing how the model affects start/end times, daily minutes and after‑school programming; staff said they will return with more detail. The committee sought no immediate approval and will continue stakeholder work through summer.","A committee of DEC representatives and district staff recommended a 40‑minute Monday early‑release model for most schools and full‑day releases for Park/JEH, with more community outreach before implementation in 2026–27.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219084,"Board considers big changes to bus routes, magnet and hazard transportation for District 65",173,5149000,5322000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c&start=5149&end=5322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c/thumbnail_5149000.jpg","/articles/6219084/Illinois/Board-considers-big-changes-to-bus-routes-magnet-and-hazard-transportation-for-District-65","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219084-6648a6c8e5519da6139d821ae2710177/orig.mp4?Expires=1770595269&Signature=Gy2koP6pZkNwbo0HWw6CTdFFsNL05HJF56gYMQ9e30g7j5CQqiqxRfv2ElYR0VhUXC5m3CtGvq9c7X4k0XdaYeG7FVYRuHcrVUkD-a7hP8TjmeMnhOqhj~qQQb~HHEQ6pLHiXd4D2CEXdyiNiW8lbpb2gLo~5TKbfp2y-wVZvgYy-oedq14zA-5-XOIub8XUpdKP7ly2cOgOdEu18y4UTAZV77E05NF0HJUzQ7wkIdFfJsqpdBKHcHEmEuwNASgFrl705pEU7wZzR6OocesGA15RAi-XjyHbuFCK7-5ETTtffzrzifqjPIsn~SsBtXDHNDpckd66wxXBdC-e3bPnKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evanston CCSD 65 staff told the Curriculum & Policy Committee on June 2 that the district must balance legal requirements, safety assessments and limited budgets as it revises transportation policy ahead of facilities changes and the district reconfiguration plan (STRP 3).

Transportation staff and district counsel outlined which students the district is required to transport under state law, which categories are optional and how Cook County tax, route and contractual constraints shape choices about routes and fees. Required transportation types cited by staff include students who live more than 1.5 miles from their assigned school, students whose IEPs require transportation, and students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney‑Vento Act. Staff also said that students attending charter or magnet programs may require transportation depending on Illinois State Board of Education interpretation and that the district has historically provided magnet transportation in several cases.

\"Any student that lives more than 1.5 miles away from their assigned school, we are pretty much required to transport them unless we certify with ISBE that adequate, safe public transportation is available to them,\" the district's presenter explained. Transportation staff also emphasized that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) approves hazard intersections; when a crossing guard is permanently posted at a location, IDOT may not deem the crossing a hazard and hazard transportation eligibility can change.

Staff outlined a range of policy choices for the board, including: maintain current K–5 and limited middle‑school routes; expand paid or free service to all 6–8 students (estimated at roughly $80,000 per route); pursue an ISBE certification that public transit is adequate for some students to eliminate bus service for them; or adopt new fee structures for students under 1.5 miles who do not cross an IDOT‑designated hazard. Transportation leaders said they can provide a route‑by‑route rider count and identify how many riders rely on hazard designations vs. distance. \"We can tell you exactly how many are on the bus because of hazard,\" staff said.

Board members emphasized the need for community engagement and asked staff to return with: exact ridership counts per route, the number of riders whose eligibility depends on hazard crossings, an analysis of how proposed changes would affect families' commutes and work arrangements, and comparative data from peer districts. Several trustees also requested cost estimates for charging carts and for potential impacts of the state's pending budget decisions on existing Pace/CTA school‑transportation partnerships.

Staff said next steps include broader stakeholder engagement, legal review of magnet/charter transportation obligations and a community survey; they did not take an immediate vote. Staff suggested the board could delay implementation to the 2027–28 school year to give families and partner organizations time to adjust to any changes.

The committee also discussed crossing guards: the district shares crossing‑guard costs with the City of Evanston; that agreement phases the district toward bearing the full cost by Fiscal Year 2027, and staff said the district can renegotiate with the city if the board requests it.","Staff presented legal limits and multiple options for K–8 route coverage, magnet and EL transportation, and hazard routes; board asked for rider counts, equity analysis and community outreach before decisions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6219090,"Evanston schools move to standardize iPad use, restrict open YouTube after months of public comment",1731,2626000,4357000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c&start=2626&end=4357","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624129-ca830e271ee74db68100b300e2bc5a5c/thumbnail_2626000.jpg","/articles/6219090/Illinois/Evanston-schools-move-to-standardize-iPad-use-restrict-open-YouTube-after-months-of-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219090-17309b02859784f10f327d79f750fbef/orig.mp4?Expires=1770595269&Signature=JYhVFPkYCMuzjflD5yL9bi-45hlAF-2gMR6zndjQ2Dw1q0VcXE~DQMoRIjzREYlH8HyHsctVhWARlv6E1SI-HbqBVzRbCo9Xr~oi9VB39jsgTty3VmI477iyKdAdDjk6JB6EnhNkZ6k~C~Gh193scVWv0MUro3ZSD2WLWI0b4M0X-8c3-tkWAUfFfJJBqFWKvOlNZ9JqSshGLhc7UlwvSmEHGK7HO0k6WMDzl4bftEL5M3F5AdLDaYnD2-VQS8kNkWtzNNR4m8m4GDQpxgatsvRyPSroz-~Ir2dQfTyl9~FsTkRXmiVYetEM8ECsCghTFY4q39p92z4Su4O5kHI3dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evanston CCSD 65 administrators told the Curriculum and Policy Committee on June 2 that the district will move from ad hoc classroom device rules toward a consistent policy that limits non‑instructional use of school‑issued iPads, expands professional learning for teachers and removes open YouTube access for students.

The guidance follows months of public comment urging stricter controls on student devices and a four‑month YouTube pilot at Schute Middle School, which staff said informed a district‑wide block of open YouTube access starting this summer.

Director of Technology Elena Koceras outlined the district's vision and work from year one of a five‑year technology plan, including: scoping apps in the district app store against curriculum needs; refreshing older staff iPads at middle schools with on‑site distribution paired with professional learning; expanding computer literacy; and updates to indoor‑recess guidance to create technology‑free free‑choice time. \"Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that technology is far more than just a tool — it supports students and staff to create, collaborate and engage in safe digital environments,\" Koceras said. She told the committee that the pilot helped staff identify where YouTube was instructional and where it was not, and that the district is creating playlists and Google Classroom workflows for teachers who rely on specific videos.

Parents and community members who spoke during public comment urged the district to do more: Miriam Kendall of ScreenSense Evanston asked the board for \"screen free time\" and asked that the district enforce existing policy restricting devices to instructional purposes; Diana Leung described examples of harmful content that had been seen and urged a lab‑based, limited access model; and Kristen Granchalek, a psychotherapist and parent, urged revision of the technology policy to reflect neuroscience concerns about excessive early device use. \"When kids rely too heavily on touchscreen tech, their brains adapt to that constant stimulation,\" Granchalek said during public comment.

Board members pressed staff on several operational details. They asked whether the district can centrally default students' devices to restricted home settings, how families will be supported to use Apple Screen Time or Securely Home controls, and whether the district can report device screen time and app‑level use. Koceras said families can use Securely Home reports and Apple screen‑time settings and that the district's Mobile Device Management (Jamf) can scope and push apps by grade, but it currently does not provide a district‑wide, per‑student screen‑time report without manual inspection of a device. \"There is not a tool there that collects on screen time from all devices from all students,\" she said.

Staff said the next steps are: academic and technology teams will scope apps by curricular tier (tier 1/core materials, tier 2/intervention, tier 3/acceleration); update indoor‑recess guidance to be technology‑free; pilot standard approaches where needed; develop a middle‑school cell phone policy; and bring implementation recommendations and procedures to the board by August. Board members asked staff to return with family‑facing materials and an outreach plan so caregivers can apply home controls and know how school‑level expectations will be enforced.

The committee did not vote on a new board policy at the meeting; staff said procedural recommendations and any needed contract or policy language will come back to the board this summer for review and formal action.

The district cited Board Policy 6.235 (artificial intelligence guidance adopted January 2025) and the district's computer literacy mandate as drivers for changes to instructional technology use. The timeline staff proposed calls for classroom and family procedures in August and a fall rollout of clarified schoolwide expectations.","District 65 staff outlined a year‑one technology plan and recommended standard procedures to limit non‑instructional iPad use; board members asked for family outreach, more data on app usage and a formal proposal in August.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Municipal advisor outlines bond, refinancing and life‑safety options for District 65 capital needs

Teachers credit Foundation 65 grants with boosting student belonging and early‑learning outcomes

District teachers and administrators propose weekly 40‑minute Monday early release for professional learning; district will survey families

Board considers big changes to bus routes, magnet and hazard transportation for District 65

Evanston schools move to standardize iPad use, restrict open YouTube after months of public comment