Evanston School District 65 Parents Criticize Closure Process

Community members raise concerns over lack of transparency and impact on students and teachers

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a focus group, seven parents from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 discussed the district's recent school closure and consolidation decisions, including the closures of Kingsley Elementary and Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, as well as the termination of the Willard Elementary Two-Way Immersion program. Parents criticized the district's lack of community engagement, concerns over the transition process, and doubts about the administration's long-term vision.

Why it matters

The school closures and program cuts in District 65 have sparked significant backlash from parents, who feel the process lacked transparency and failed to prioritize student outcomes and teacher retention. The decisions highlight the challenges districts face in balancing budgets and enrollment while maintaining community trust.

The details

District 65 launched a 'Structural Deficit Reduction Plan' in 2025 to cut $10-$15 million from its budget. This led to the closures of Kingsley Elementary and Dr. Bessie Rhodes, as well as the termination of the Willard Elementary Two-Way Immersion program. Parents criticized the district's community engagement efforts, saying the process was confusing and lacked clarity around the criteria used to make decisions. They also expressed concerns about the transition process for impacted students and teachers, arguing the district has not adequately supported them. Overall, parents said they lack trust in the district administration's long-term vision and ability to lead the community through these changes.

  • In September 2025, District 65 staff presented 33 school closure scenarios to the Board of Education.
  • In January 2026, the board voted to close Kingsley Elementary and Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies after the current school year.
  • Also in January 2026, the board voted to terminate Willard Elementary's Two-Way Immersion Program.
  • In February 2026, the new board member Chris Van Nostrand was appointed.
  • The new Foster School is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 school year.

The players

Evanston/Skokie School District 65

The public school district serving the cities of Evanston and Skokie, Illinois.

Kingsley Elementary School

An elementary school in Evanston that was closed by District 65 after the 2025-26 school year.

Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies

An elementary school in Evanston that was closed by District 65 after the 2025-26 school year.

Willard Elementary School

An elementary school in Evanston that had its Two-Way Immersion program terminated by District 65 after the 2025-26 school year.

Foster School

A new elementary school opening in Evanston's 5th Ward for the 2026-27 school year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I was frankly hopeful we could get by with delaying things one more year, closing no schools and seeing if all the audits could come through first, (including) the special ed audit. I turned out to be entirely wrong because the special ed audit was a huge disappointment.”

— Colin Winters, District 65 Parent

“The reason why they wanted to close schools was not necessarily for the money, but it was so that enrollment at Foster would actually be feasible, which that's fine, but they were never honest about that.”

— Kelly McCabe, District 65 Parent

“It's setting up criteria that's already — like you're expected to fail in that criteria and really (do not have) a clear understanding of what the criteria means. And really, what can be done between January 19th and October relative to these issues? Not much.”

— Katie Armistead, District 65 Parent

“While some people can say, 'Oh, it's just a little thing. It was a form, and maybe the question was confusing,' when tension is so high and concerns are so high, and there are options for people outside of the public school system in this town, every little thing matters.”

— Liz Wolens, District 65 Parent

“I don't think this administration totally gets it — that there's some serious structural issues and systemic issues. And they want to just kind of gloss over that or pretend they don't exist or pretend like everything's OK, and it's not. There needs to be significant change and significant accountability put back into place that I don't feel like is there right now.”

— Kelly McCabe, District 65 Parent

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.