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Board approves 4% pay increase for nonunion staff as deficit‑reduction work continues
Summary
The Evanston CCSD 65 board voted June 23 to approve a roughly 4% pay increase for nonunion staff; administration said the projected FY26 budget impact is about $574,500 and covers approximately 250 employees. Board members said retention of staff who will implement deficit‑reduction work was a principal reason for approval.
The Evanston CCSD 65 board approved a roughly 4% salary increase for nonunion staff at its June 23 meeting, after a public discussion about morale, retention and budget constraints.
Administrators told the board the proposed increase—budgeted within current FY26 projections—would cost about $574,500 and affect roughly 250 employees in nonunion roles (administrators, support staff and others). Staff also said total personnel reductions budgeted from FY25 to FY26 amount to about $2.4 million. Board members who spoke said they weighed the need to retain experienced staff who will implement the SDRP work against the district’s structural financial challenge.
Why it matters: The increase affects central and school‑based nonunion positions and comes while the board and community consider large structural options (facility consolidations or other reductions) to address a multi‑year budget shortfall. Several board members said the implementation capacity—principals and directors—must be maintained in order to execute any plan recommended later this year.
Most important facts: The motion to approve the recommended personnel compensation passed; roll call recorded board members as voting yes (Wilkins, Weimer, Anderson, Hernandez and others). Administration said the dollar impact of a 4% increase is approximately $574,500 and covers about 250 employees; staff also estimated FY25‑to‑FY26 personnel reductions at roughly $2.4 million. The board asked that staff continue to implement a nonunion evaluation process that moves from pilot to full implementation next year.
Supporting details: Trustees debated optics and community trust while acknowledging the operational need to retain and fairly compensate staff who will carry out difficult implementation tasks in the coming months. Tamara Mitchell, chief financial officer, and other staff answered questions about the amounts, the number of employees affected and how the proposed increase fits into the district’s broader deficit work.
Outcome: The board voted to approve the compensation action in open session (motion and second were called on the record and the vote was taken), and separately approved a resolution to dismiss certain administrative support staff as part of other personnel actions recorded in the meeting minutes.
