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Important 5th Ward School Update October 17, 2023

Dear District 65 Community-

The Evanston-Skokie School District 65 Board of Education held a special meeting last night, focused on planning for our new 5th Ward school, including current projected costs and related options. Board members received an in-depth memorandum, attached here, that I read at the meeting.

As detailed in the memorandum, estimated costs for the 5th Ward School as currently designed are now projected at $65 million, exceeding the anticipated initial budget of $40 million from March 2022. In addition, the analysis determined that financial savings from reduced transportation costs due to student reassignment to a 5th Ward school in their community are also projected to be significantly lower than anticipated.

The memorandum reflects input from the District’s architects and newly engaged financial advisor. It details additional design options, including related costs and timeline projections, as well as financing options for the school as currently designed. All of these options are provided for the Board’s consideration and in full transparency to the community.

To be clear, our Board and Administration remain committed to returning a school to the  Fifth Ward community for the first time in 60 years. We must also ensure that our Bessie Rhodes community is well cared for and that a strong transition plan is in place that includes a Two-Way Immersion program. At the same time, we must also serve as fiscal stewards for our community by considering the District’s structural deficit and the need for significant budget cuts in the upcoming academic years.   

At last night’s meeting, our School Board and Administration engaged in robust and thoughtful dialogue about the information contained in the memorandum and  to determine next steps regarding the 5th Ward school. The recording of the meeting will be available on our website within 48 hours.

Our Board has asked for additional information from District Administration and is committed to engaging more deeply in this conversation as part of their regularly scheduled Board Meeting on Monday, October 23, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. We will continue to provide updates to our District families, staff and community members about our planning and next steps. 

As always, we thank you for your support of District 65, our schools and students. 

Dr. Angel Turner (she/her)
Interim Superintendent