Dear District 65 Community,

As we continue on with Phase III of our Structural Deficit Reduction Plan (SDRP), I want to express deep appreciation for the collaboration and thoughtful input that has shaped this process so far.

With the need to further reduce the district’s budget by $10-15 million by the end of next school year, we are focused on evaluating our building use and facility conditions, enrollment trends, and planning for possible school closures or consolidations. While these decisions are difficult, this is an important opportunity to reimagine and reinvest in public education within our community.

At Monday’s Regular Board Meeting, proposed criteria were shared for closures or consolidation. These criteria were developed by a dedicated subcommittee of stakeholders with a wide range of expertise and grounded in feedback from families, staff, and students. As a reminder, no decisions have been made around additional school closures or consolidations. Additionally, a progress update was shared by the Finance and Student Programming stakeholder subcommittees. Special thanks to all of our committee members for the time and energy they have invested in this important process.

Watch the video below to learn more about why we are considering school closures/consolidations.

We know summer is a busy time, but your voice remains critical. I encourage you to stay engaged, review the proposed criteria, and participate in the upcoming opportunities to share your perspective. Together, we can ensure decisions are guided by both community values and a shared commitment to equity and excellence for all students.

Scenarios for potential school closures/consolidations will be developed based on criteria and shared for stakeholder feedback in September. Stay tuned for additional updates.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr. Angel Turner (she/her)

Superintendent

Proposed Categories for Potential School Closures/Consolidation

View Short Video

Review One-Page Summary

Equity: Connecting Every Student to the Resources and Support They Deserve

We remain committed to fully understanding and assessing potential decisions to ensure they do not disproportionately affect the diverse communities we serve.

Proposed Criteria

Impact on Students: Consider how many students would have to change schools—and which students are most affected.

Demographics of Impact: Identifying whether certain groups (based on race, socioeconomic status, language, or special education status) are more heavily impacted.

Geography: Making School Access Safe and Practical

We are committed to ensuring that any changes to attendance boundaries minimize the challenges students and families may face getting to school each day.

Proposed Criteria

Walkability: Ensuring as many students as possible remain within a reasonable walking distance of their school (recommendation to model 0.75 miles or less).

Safe Routes to School: Taking into account known safety concerns (such as traffic patterns and hazards identified by IDOT) near schools or along common travel routes.

Transportation Needs and Costs: Percentage of students who would qualify for transportation and accompanying costs.

Geographic Proximity: Average distance of three closest adjacent schools.

Building Functionality: Ensuring Schools Meet Today's and Tomorrow's Needs

We must ensure that buildings are designed and equipped to support high-quality academic and social emotional learning experiences for all students—now and in the future.

Proposed Criteria

Accessibility: Whether buildings meet current ADA standards and are fully accessible to all students and staff.

Key Facilities: Whether the school includes dedicated, separate spaces for a cafeteria and gym to support student health, wellness, and instructional activities throughout the day.

Size of School Facility: Assess the number of classrooms that a school has that can serve students and support overall enrollment.

Financial Impact: Being Responsible with Public Resources

We're committed to making fiscally responsible decisions that support long-term sustainability and allow us to invest more directly in teaching and learning and overall student experiences.

Proposed Criteria: Building Income

Revenue Opportunities: The potential for a property to generate income for the district if repurposed or sold, including considerations related to landmark status and zoning restrictions.

Proposed Criteria: Building Cost