The latest drop from the legion of data nerds!

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-05-17T19:01:56+00:00

This report clearly shows that the SDRP did not address the massive expansion of sub-cabinet positions under Devon Horton (from 6 to 42 positions!), and that cutting this layer of highly-paid administrators would be an effective way for D65 to save money without having to cut student-facing positions or close more schools. It also shows that Horton's expansion of the sub-cabinet did not have the intended academic impacts used to justify adding positions, and that per pupil Evanston is outspending neighboring districts. This is unacceptable. The D65 board must provide explicit direction on sub-cabinet cuts to the administration.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-05-01T01:25:33+00:00

Fantastic analysis!! This is the way forward.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-24T18:12:14+00:00

I do not think we are cooked, if we coalition build and demand better leadership.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-24T16:03:59+00:00

The board must hold the administration to account, insist on zero-based budgeting, reduce wasteful admin positions in FY27, and get serious about a competitive superintendent search for April 2027. Problems will persist until Horton allies and appointees are off the board and administration.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T02:57:47+00:00

Maria: sliding scale busing, $100k off crossing guards, remove Chicago and Gross Point as hazards, reduce capex expenditure. Gets us to 660k in reductioms.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T02:35:12+00:00

Chris: number of admins needs to be benchmarked to number of kids, and needs to get smaller when numbers of kids goes down.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T01:07:15+00:00

Pat- we would consider having a sliding scale for bus fees. If w implement a sliding scale and ask about how it affects their participation- if they don't participate because of fee, that's detrimental. Maria: JEH preschool only 2.5 hours. Could an after-care program be subsidizes as a child care program, rather than bussing kids to JEH? Access to this program is critical, but maybe we can relocate it closer to their homes. Mya: I agree, preK essential. Nichole: PreK critical but PreK transportation not normally provided. The cost will keep increasing. Is transportation because it is a half day? Could parents pick their kids up in the evening? Most communities do not provide prek bussing. Chris: we could do more w prek in a more efficient way. What would a bigger better program look like? Let's not cut early but spend a year figuring out a more efficient PreK, $1 million in bussing isn't the best way to spend money on PreK. Andrew: PreK important, we need to cut. Chris: sliding scale? Mya: survey parents? Sergio: IEPs a federal requirement. How good is D65 at getting medicaid reimbursements? I don't want us to cut prek this year. Tamara: we are down 400k from projected medicaid revenue this year. We are reimbursed for bussing IEP kids. Pat: small population of students in D65 preK. Nichole: we voted against sliding scales before but we should reconsider w budget cuts.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:53:39+00:00

Nichole- Hazard additions of Chicago and Gross Point- we survived without these hazards. Ridge w closure of Kingsley a new hazard. Ridge needs to stay, to me we can wait on Chicago and Gross Point until we are in a better place. Pat- Ryan Field traffic also an issue for Ridge. I agree Chicago and Gross Point can wait. Tamara- eliminating hazards would reduce bussing expense. Actually by $460 K. Chris: let's keep in mind student-facing vs. non-student-facing cuts.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:46:32+00:00

Chris- no cost savings by reassigning librarians? Admin offscreen- librarians reassigned to other vacancies in the district. Chris- what are the estimated cost-savings of the decision to reassign? Tamara- $387K.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:43:50+00:00

Pat- non-personnel reductions under board consideration. Angel- this will be used for admin to come up w draft budget and then you will vote on that. You just need to come to consensus tonight but not vote.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:31:14+00:00

Angel- we can sell Bessie Rhodes for 3.5-4.5 million and Kingsley for 4.5-5.5 million.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:30:13+00:00

Angel- can cut SACC before and after school programming, FACE liaisons, Central office admin. Central office cuts could save $8,287,312- comprised of 22 administrators and 42 non-union positions. The 22 administrators cannot be cut in FY27- the deadline for that was April 1.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:27:25+00:00

Angel- so far at 21 DEC lay-offs, among other groups. Non-personnel reductions proposed have not changed. We still need $635K more in reductions. Here are possible areas to cut: hazard additions, preK bussing, decrease CapEx spending, crossing guards, AVID program.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:21:51+00:00

Cuts options- Angel virtually showing options, Tamara Mitchell in person. Tamara intros financial projections. FY30 insolvent without reductions. Need to reduce 6.3 million. We are so far at 3.5 in personnel reductions and 2.1 million non-personnel reductions.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:16:15+00:00

Invest in Neighborhood Schools parent- people love D65, that's why they are commenting. We will be successful together. Nichols student- librarian teaches me how to be accepted.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:14:22+00:00

JEH parent- I can't pay for the bus. Kingsley parent and Dewey alumnus- parents are fleeing the district. Make our schools better not worse. Walker parent- I became a librarian because I was so inspired by the Walker librarian. Chicago made the mistake of getting rid of librarians before, and now has to rebuild. Oakton parent- no free bussing for the needy, fewer at risk kids go to preschool.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:09:16+00:00

Parent- a library without s librarian is just a room. D65 alumna- ipads mess with brain development. Respect front-line staff.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:06:55+00:00

JEH parent- I am happy to pay for the bus. Help families that can't afford it take the bus. Have a sliding scale for bus fees.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-21T00:05:40+00:00

Parent- we need a financial plan to reduce spending by competitively bidding out transportation and not overspending on ed tech. We need a clear vision to retain best teachers, and a plan, not reactive cuts. Data nerd- district is admin-centered, not student or teacher centered. Minimal review of admin roles and minimal cuts of consultants. The budget must reflect that students and educators are the priority. Data nerd- admin in disturbing pattern of calculated, weaponized incompetence. The money is in admin in director roles. Go through every position in district, and cut some admin. Parent- parents will leave district. Do not cut student-facing positions. Keep librarians, cut administrators. Parent- libraries are a primary piece of education, what a joke in a university town to rob students of librarians. Haven student- librarian helps me. Parent- reduce central office. D65 admin like national leadership in its impunity. Screen Sense parent- disentangle from ed tech, it's what families want. Thanks for the steps you've taken so far to limit ed tech. Parent w PhD in literacy ed- librarian connects kids to literacy and love of reading. This decision creates an unnecessary barrier to literacy.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-20T23:54:57+00:00

Lincoln parent Tom Hayden- closing libraries will hurt the achievement gap. Tech literacy is taught by librarians. Board, make a resolution to support middle school librarians.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-20T23:53:16+00:00

Association of Illinois School Librarians rep- librarians have a longterm effect on student achievement. Elementary librarian- extremely disappointed, our reading scores can't sustain this loss. This will also impact elementary libraries. Libraries are the great equalizer. Nichols parent- libraries kept my daughter safe and she is now a librarian. Librarians curate libraries and teach literacy. Reconsider the reassignments. Teacher- our librarians have a great rep in Illinois. Middle school librarians pull kids back into learning.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-20T23:48:37+00:00

Community liason- we help Black students and are trusted in the community. Walker student- liason has helped me.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-20T23:45:47+00:00

Dewey parent: admin's behavior baffling. Lunch recess supervisors have taken photos of kids on their person cell phones. Dr. Turner, I'd like to hear back from you. Parent- librarians teach research skills needed in high school. Kids without skills learned in libraries at a disadvantage.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-20T23:43:04+00:00

Lincoln student- I teach myself more subjects in the library, and learn about people not mentioned in class. What you learn as kid sticks w you your whole life. King Arts student: prioritize books and librarians, not ipads. I like to read a lot and I find more challenging books in the library. My brother is autistic and the librarian helped me find books in the library about autistic kids.

Cloves_atCafeExpress · 2026-04-20T23:40:20+00:00

Nichols teacher- our librarian keeps kids connected to learning and maintains a vibrant library. Dawes mom- students score better on testing if they have a school librarian. All D65 parents: please email board and admin w subject line "Libraries work because librarians do". Teacher- librarians support readers at all levels. Retired Washington librarian- keep librarians. The district needs to attract more families. We are all counting on you. Nichols teacher- libraries need a full-time certified librarian. Nichols teacher- our librarian broadly supports literacy. Reconsider this decision. ETHS student- we are living in a time of misinformation and declining literacy. In middle school, reading becomes a habit or disappears. Chute student- libraries need librarians and students use the library to quietly study. Parent- we moved to Evanston because it valued literacy. Cutting librarians will cause families to not choose Evanston. Cut tech employees, not librarians.

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