The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education voted Monday night to standardize district transportation policy, approved new hazardous road designations and deliberated a three-year plan to decrease costs and improve student outcomes for the district’s special education services.
The meeting was also the first since District 65’s Chief Financial Officer Tamara Mitchell announced she is stepping down at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
“I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the school board,” Board President Patricia S. Anderson said to Mitchell. “I hold you personally and your skills specifically in the highest regard.”
Mitchell said it was an “honor to serve this community.” Anderson added that she is committed to a “smooth transition” directed by Mitchell’s “continued skill and professionalism.”
Board updates transportation policy
Following a lengthy discussion, the board unanimously approved rescinding a board policy that set different transportation criteria for neighborhood and magnet school students.
The board agreed to establish a uniform policy across the district, reducing the district’s transportation fee revenue by an estimated $30,000, according to the board memo.
Under the new policy, K-8 students living over 1.5 miles away from their assigned school or facing “serious walking hazards” will receive free transportation, as well as English learners enrolled in bilingual programs at schools beyond their assigned attendance boundary.
For special education students, free transportation services and vehicle adaptations will be provided if included in their individualized educational programs.
At the Feb. 9 board meeting, Data Management Specialist Chris Koutavas and District 65 Transportation Coordinator Lou Gatta presented the board with four options for determining hazard roads. The options could have reduced the district’s transportation costs, which currently stand at $4.2 million annually.
Gatta and Koutavas returned to the board at Monday’s meeting with evaluations of several roads not currently marked as hazardous under Illinois Department of Transportation guidelines.
Following discussion over potential designations, the board unanimously agreed to adopt hazard road designations aligned with IDOT guidelines, which include Dempster Street, Emerson Street, Golf Road, Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard. In addition, Ridge Avenue, Chicago Avenue and Gross Point Road — currently not considered hazardous roads by IDOT — will be designated as such.
Transportation provided for non-IDOT hazard roads is not eligible for reimbursement, according to the memo. The designation will cost the district an estimated $4 million, resulting in an overall cost reduction of about $200,000. Notably, roads that have crossing guards lose their hazardous designation.
The board also discussed 2027 budget allocations for the Crossing Guard Program. Currently, District 65 and the city share the cost of the program, with the district paying about $460,000 and the city paying about $200,000. However, the cost-sharing agreement expires next year, and the district will assume 100% of the cost by 2028 and is projected to pay about $737,000 that year.
According to Gatta, the board is leaning towards allocating $500,000 to fund around 40 crossing guards and prioritizing six new guards for Foster School and high-traffic intersections. The district currently employs about 55 crossing guards.
Board discusses a three-year special education plan
Gini Sulek, Director of Student Specialized Services and Supports, and Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Leadership Katie Speth presented a three-year plan to control costs and improve student outcomes regarding special education services.
According to the special education audit presentation, state and local expenditures dedicated to Special Education Maintenance of Effort rose from about $28 million in the 2021-22 school year to over $45 million in the 2023-24 school year. The board discussed potential causes for the increase, including changes in leadership and a rise in contractual workers.
In its first year, the plan emphasized greater fiscal oversight and the use of data to monitor student performance. Board members also highlighted the need to prioritize individual student needs and inclusivity despite rising costs.
“It’s always been about access, and we are federally mandated to provide access through the individual education program, whatever the cost may come,” said board member Sergio Hernandez.
Parents raise concerns over administrators’ arrest
Board members met in a closed session for an hour to discuss the status of “specific employees,” according to the agenda. At the end of the open session meeting, the board voted to “dismiss and suspend” a district administrator. The administrator’s name was not publicly disclosed.
During public comment, several parents referenced the Feb. 5 arrest of Washington Elementary School Assistant Principal Carlos Mendez on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, domestic battery and evading an out-of-state warrant. No district students are involved in the allegations.
Former FBI hostage negotiator Phil Andrew, who is running to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, attended the meeting and spoke during public comment.
“Thank you for your work,” Andrew told the board. “There are three Andrews — my nieces and nephews are in District 65, and their future and their well-being is in your hands.”
Some parents criticized the district’s communication following Mendez’s arrest and asked for additional transparency.
“My daughter got here a few weeks ago, and in her own words, not mine, asked who you were working for,” said district parent Lauren McNamara during public comment. “And so I ask again, isn’t it the kids?”
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Related Stories:
— D65 board swears in Van Nostrand, moves forward with transportation policy changes
— ‘We’re making history’: Families express excitement, raise questions at Foster family meeting
— Chris Van Nostrand named to D65 board as district navigates period of transition
