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Dear District 65 Community -
I felt it was important to provide an update on District 65’s Structural Deficit Reduction Plan, especially as it relates to conversations around school closures. In this message I will cover the proposed school closure scenarios, next steps, and the public hearing process. Before going into the logistics, however, it’s imperative to start with the humanity of the situation in which we find our district.
We see the impact of this on our community. Families are wondering if their child is going to a different school next year and we acknowledge that this has been extremely challenging. These very real and understandable concerns also weigh heavily on my team. We are working around the clock to make sure that relevant data is considered and that these discussions are transparent to our community.
The impact of such a difficult decision is what propels me to do our best for our students. My ultimate goal is to make sure D65 is a place where every child who lives in this community is serviced with a high-performing education in a sustainable school district. Sustainability means having the financial health to focus on instruction, not just structural deficits. It means having building utilization that aligns with best practices to support positive student outcomes.
Current Status of School Closure Discussion
On November 3, the School Board narrowed its focus to two scenarios. To view proposed boundary maps, strengths and challenges, data tables, and more, click the links for each scenario below.
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Scenario 2D-Revised: Closure of Kingsley and Willard after the 2025-2026 school year
- TWI section at Willard Elementary would close
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Scenario 2F-Revised: Closure of Lincolnwood and Kingsley after the 2025-2026 school year
- STEP program at Lincolnwood Elementary would move to Dewey Elementary
- TWI section at Willard Elementary would close
Next Week’s Board Meeting
The School Board meets Monday, November 17, to further discuss these scenarios. Public Open Session begins at 6 p.m. at the Joseph E. Hill Education Center (1500 McDaniel Ave., Evanston). The meeting will also be livestreamed and archived on the District 65 YouTube channel.
At this meeting, the board is expected to vote on whether to consider a specific school closure scenario.
Public Hearing Information
If the board votes on November 17 to recommend moving forward with considering a school closure scenario, the board will hold three public hearings for each school, as required by Illinois School Code. The District will publish official notice for these public hearings on its website at least 10 days before the first public hearing.
If the board decides to move forward with commencing public hearings, they have been tentatively scheduled for the evenings of December 3, 8 and 10 to give the community as much planning time as possible. Further details regarding the time and place will be provided by the District at a later date.
There will be no action taken by the Board at these public hearings; the sole purpose is to hear from the community regarding the proposal to close a school. It is anticipated that the Board will make a final decision at its December 15, 2025 regular board meeting. More information will be forthcoming following Monday's meeting.
I believe that we all want what is best for our children. Thank you for your engagement and partnership as we work together toward thoughtful decisions and a bright future for District 65.
Warm regards,
Dr. Angel Turner (she/her)
Superintendent
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