District leaders flag possible withdrawals from True North cooperative; superintendents to meet with True North leadership
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Summary
District 28 officials reported that multiple member districts are considering withdrawal from True North, the special-education cooperative, which could affect shared service delivery and finances; superintendents plan meetings to discuss bylaws and a possible redesign.
District officials told the Northbrook School District 28 board that several member districts are signaling intent to withdraw from True North, a regional cooperative that provides special-education and other services.
At the True North update, a board speaker reported that District 134 and District 225 (Glenbrook) had moved toward withdrawal and that “11 of 18 member districts are considering withdrawal from True North’s cooperative,” a development officials said could materially affect the cooperative’s fiscal stability and service model.
Dr. Pearson told the board the superintendents will meet with Kurt Snyder, superintendent at True North, and noted the cooperative’s bylaws date to 1959 and include a two-year runway for a district to withdraw after declaring intent. She said some districts seeking withdrawal have very few students served by True North—Glenbrook, for example, reported no students in the cooperative program—and that concerns include cost-sharing formulas and perceived disproportionate cost relative to service use.
No formal board action was taken; staff said they will continue superintendent-level conversations and return updates to the board as the cooperative’s membership and structure evolve.
