Evanston-Skokie School District 65 closing 2 more schools to net $20 million amid budget issues

Evanston-Skokie School District 65 in Chicago's north suburbs is poised to shut down two more schools, and parents said it all amounts to déjà vu.

The district, which serves students throughout Evanston and part of Skokie, already shut down two schools last year.

Interim District 65 Supt. Eric Witherspoon said the district is in a financial crisis, and if no action is taken, the district won't be able to pay teachers and staff down the line.

In school a cafeteria on Tuesday evening, Evanston-Skokie District 65 parents and teachers paid close attention as administrators broke down the deficit the district faces. So to get out of the red, cuts are projected.

Those cuts include at least two schools shutting down.

"It's just hard to trust again after last year, we literally went through this whole thing," said parent Kelly Arrogante.

Last fall, parents and students rallied to keep schools open after the district raised the flag about the financial problems. They ended up closing two schools — Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies in Skokie and Kingsley Elementary School in Evanston.

But previously made cuts and school closures did not fully remedy the situation, so another year and more closures loom.

"Here we go again, but I do have hope that this time we'll be able to come up with a clearer vision," said parent Kelly McCabe.

The money woes center around old buildings in need of repairs, declining enrollment — to the tune of a 17% drop in the past five years alone — and a large staff. There are currently 5,900 total students enrolled, and 1,368 full-time staff members. 

The district has 16 buildings, and its schools are only two-thirds full. Thus, the district wants to close two schools. 

Teachers are set to be cut too.

"This is really hard," Witherspoon said. "We know that it affects staff members, it affects families, and there is no easy way to take away the difficulty of that. And you know, I think everybody, including myself, wishes that we weren't in this predicament."

Yet Witherspoon said staff and parents must brace for those closures and cuts to balance the district budget.

Right now, the district is running a $5 million deficit. Officials said if the district continues with no cuts by  2030, it won't have enough to make payroll. 

Leaders predict these closures will net a $20 million expense reduction.

"We will come up with a plan in the very near future so people understand what it is, but that uncertainty will be able to go away after this because people won't have to worry from year to year," Witherspoon said.

While many parents understand the math isn't adding up to keep the district afloat, they question how fewer schools and teachers will impact children.

"At what cost?" McCabe said. "Is it leading to larger class sizes?"

"I'm not optimistic, but I'm very hopeful," Arrogante said.

CBS News Chicago asked Witherspoon which schools are on the possible shutdown list. It's a burning question for parents at schools such as Lincolnwood Elementary School, at 2600 Colfax St. in the northwest part of Evanston, which was on the chopping block last year — only to be spared.

Witherspoon would not tell reporters if Lincolnwood Elementary or any other specific schools were on the list. But he said he is discussing the situation with community members at least two more times.

One of those meetings is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Haven Middle School, at 2417 Prairie Ave. in Evanston.

District leaders said they will present a "comprehensive solution" to the budget woes at the next board meeting on Oct. 13.