DEC Signal

June 1 Recap: Gender Support Team, Kingsley and Rhodes Next Steps, October Ahead — and Thank You

Monday's June 1st Committee of the Whole was the last board meeting of the school year — and this is the last DEC Signal episode before summer. Three things educators need to know. First, the board received an update on the Gender Advisory Team — District 65's Gender Support Plans for transgender and gender expansive students remain in effect. In the current national climate, educators should know their responsibilities: use students' names and pronouns, maintain confidentiality, and reach out to your building coordinator with questions. Second, Kingsley Elementary and Bessie Rhodes both close Friday, June 5th. The board discussed four options for each building — retain, lease, sell, or repurpose. No decisions made. Bessie Rhodes is already projected at $4 million on the FY27 balance sheet, needed for Foster School construction. Kingsley is valued at $4.5 to $5.5 million with the City of Evanston among interested parties. Third, the board began early-stage discussion on alternative approaches to the structural deficit. October is coming — and with it, the Lincolnwood decision point. DEC remains at the table. And to every District 65 educator ending this school year: you kept teaching through everything. Summer is yours. Rest well. DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

End of Year Recap: New Board Leadership, Kingsley and Rhodes Next Steps, Thank You

Monday, May 18th, the board meeting was the last regular meeting of the school year. Nichole Pinkard was elected board president and Chris Van Nostrand vice president, each by a 4-3 vote. The board discussed the futures of Kingsley and Bessie Rhodes following their end-of-year closures. Six organizations have expressed interest in Bessie Rhodes — including ETHS for a therapeutic day school — with an appraised value of $4.7 million, proceeds needed to close out Foster School construction. The City of Evanston is considering Kingsley for a new police and fire administrative headquarters, assessed at $3.5 to $4.5 million. No decisions were made. Community feedback sessions are scheduled at Kingsley on May 27th and Rhodes on May 28th at 6:30 p.m. DEC President Kelly Post closed the year by honoring retiring educators — more than 300 combined years of service — and the educators who kept teaching through one of the hardest years in this district's recent history. Rest well this summer. You have earned it. DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

May 4 Recap: DEC Stands for SACC Colleagues and Budget Gap Closed

This week's DEC Signal opens with a genuine win: Superintendent Turner announced the reinstatement of middle school librarians before Monday's meeting even began. The formal vote is May 18th — placement notifications by May 22nd per the CBA. The community showed up four weeks in a row, and it made a difference. DEC President Kelly Post used Monday's meeting to stand alongside EACCP colleagues in the School Age Child Care program, whose before and after-school work is essential to working families. The board voted to keep SACC intact for 2026-27, not initiate closure, and renegotiate the Right at School contract fee. On the budget: the board reached consensus on approximately $969,000 in reductions — clearing the $635,000 gap with room to absorb the librarian reinstatement costs. The plan includes technology savings ($312,500), retracting two hazardous bus routes ($160,000), reducing the crossing guard budget ($100,000), keeping the FACE liaison vacancy closed ($96,876), and reducing capex to $2.4M ($300,000). Preschool transportation stays for FY27. AVID stays. The five active FACE liaisons stay. And for special education educators, the joint committee SpEd workload plan rolls out next school year. May 18th is the next board meeting. Be there. DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

April 20 Recap: Librarians Fight Continues, Board Closes $635K Budget Gap — Here's How

Monday's District 65 board meeting was the second consecutive week of community testimony — this time, over 60 people spoke in defense of middle school librarians. DEC President Kelly Post made clear: our students did not create this budget crisis and should not absorb its consequences. But unlike the counselor decision two weeks ago, this one is administrative — not a board vote — which means the board cannot reverse it. The savings: $387,631. The library programs end. The board committed to continuing the conversation. On the budget: the board reached consensus on how to close the remaining $635,000 gap — retracting two hazardous bus routes ($160K), reducing crossing guard spending ($100K), implementing a sliding scale for general education busing (~$100K, still uncertain), and reducing capital expenditure spending by $300K. That capex reduction triggers the January 9th resolution benchmarks, meaning Lincolnwood closure is back on the table if financial targets aren't met by October. Preschool transportation and FACE liaison positions remain unresolved. Superintendent Turner warned that classroom-level services can no longer be protected from cuts. The next major decision point is October. DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

The Community Saved Seven Counselors — Here's What Happened at Monday's Board Meeting

Monday night, the District 65 community showed up — and changed an outcome. After all nine middle school counselors received RIF notices last Thursday, DEC, educators, parents, and students filled the boardroom and made their case. The board voted 5-2 to retain seven counselors and eliminate two, with the two no votes coming from board members who didn't want to cut any positions at all. Starting this fall, Haven, Nichols, and Chute will each have two counselors; King Arts will have one. Seven counselors will be there for students in September because the community spoke together. The honest context: keeping seven instead of nine saves $190,000 instead of $800,000, and the gap must come from somewhere. The board presented a $5.9 million FY27 budget reduction plan — no final decisions made on where remaining cuts will fall. The next board meeting is April 20th. DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.