The Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board officially approved a 5% fee increase for before- and after-school child care programs at its regular board meeting Monday night, Jan. 30.
The formal vote occurred a week after the Personnel, Buildings & Grounds and Finance Committee also passed the cost hike. Starting next school year, the move will result in a $24 increase in monthly payments for families with children enrolled in both the morning and afternoon sessions five days a week.
In a memo to board members, Superintendent Devon Horton said the rise in price was necessary “to cover the increased cost of labor and commodities.”
The board did not discuss the topic during a meeting that lasted less than 30 minutes, giving unanimous approval without any deliberations.
Members also did not debate, but unanimously approved, a new three-year contract for Phoenix Security, which has provided private weekend and holiday security services for district buildings since 1999. The new agreement will pay Phoenix $49,934 in 2023, $51,432 in 2024 and $52,974 in 2025.
“Phoenix Security will continue to provide systematic and random security checks of all buildings on weekend and holidays, including checks of heating/cooling ventilation systems, freezers, computer rooms, school offices, corridors, and exterior doors,” Horton said in a memo to the board.