Evanston-Skokie District 65 Proposes $20M In FY28 Cuts, Closing 2 More Schools

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston-Skokie School District 65 is considering a plan that includes approximately $20 million in FY28 reductions and the closure of two additional schools as it tries to put the district on a more financially sustainable path, Interim Superintendent Eric Witherspooon said at this week's board meeting.

In a message about the proposal, Witherspoon wrote that the proposal would require “difficult decisions, including approximately $20 million in FY28 reductions and the closure of two additional schools, as we better align our staffing, programs, operations, and facilities with the students we serve and the revenues available to support them.”

Witherspoon said the district has spent years in “a cycle of annual financial crisis management.” The district has faced repeated rounds of cuts, as well as scrutiny over school closures, tied to the same structural problems.

The superintendent said the district’s costs continue to grow faster than revenues, enrollment has declined, and many staffing and operating structures were built for a larger district.

Witherspoon also said the district maintains more school buildings and space than current enrollment requires while also facing significant needs in aging facilities. Although the district has already made substantial reductions, Witherspoon said the current trajectory remains unsustainable.

Witherspoon said the district plans to present solutions to its deficit at its board meeting on Oct. 13. The district said they also plan to hold several community meetings in the coming weeks so families, staff and residents can better understand the financial situation and the proposed path forward.

The superintendent said no final decisions have been made and acknowledged more work is ahead.