Evanston board weighs closing two neighborhood schools as community urges slow, transparent process

Evanston CCSD 65 met Oct. 27 for a regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting dominated by the Strategic District Reconfiguration Plan (SDRP) Phase 3, including a staff recommendation to close two neighborhood schools in addition to the already‑closed Bessie Rhodes site.

Dr. Susan Harkin, the district’s external consultant, told the board that student‑centered services recommends “a financial model incorporating a two‑school closure, plus the Bessie Rhodes school closing” to raise district facility utilization and protect long‑term fiscal health. The recommendation accompanies multiple financial models that aim for a balanced operating budget and a 90‑day cash‑on‑hand target, Harkin said.

Why it matters: The board faces a structural deficit driven by declining enrollment, an estimated $188 million in deferred facilities needs and annual expenditures that currently outpace revenue. The staff models show a small set of tradeoffs that can restore fiscal stability but would require closing buildings, program moves and additional operational reductions. Community members and staff told the board the cost of rushing that…