Results on the 2023 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) show that by one measure, District 65 students may have recovered the learning lost in English Language Arts (ELA) due to […]

Author Archives: Larry Gavin
Larry Gavin was a co-founder of the Evanston RoundTable in 1998 and assisted in its conversion to a non-profit in 2021. He has received many journalism awards for his articles on education, housing and other subjects in the past 24 years. He practiced law in Chicago for 36 years.
Analysis and viewpoint: How much will District 65 save in transportation costs with new school?
School District 65 officials have repeatedly said they will save $3.2 million in transportation expenses each year for 18 years once the new school in the Fifth Ward is opened. […]
Many households in Evanston’s historic Black district are at risk of being displaced by gentrification
Based on income data, half of the households may be at risk.
District 65 projects operating deficits growing to $17.2 million by 2029
School District 65 is projecting that it will operate at a deficit of $2.5 million in fiscal year 2025 (FY’25), and that the deficit will grow to $17.2 million by […]
District 65 committee reviews $171 million tentative budget for 2024
Kathy Zalewski, business manager of Evanston/Skokie School District 65, presented a tentative budget for the district’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (FY’24) at the Aug. 16 meeting of the […]
District 65 closes out FY’23 with $7.5 million operating deficit
Kathy Zalewski, business manager of School District 65, advised the school board’s finance committee on Aug. 16 that the district will close out its fiscal year ending June 30 (FY’23) […]
Fewer District 65 students on track to college readiness in math
One important way to assess whether a school district is preparing its students to have the critical thinking skills needed to succeed in college and careers is to use high […]
District 65 school board OKs two busing contracts
The District 65 School Board on June 12 approved contracts with two bus companies: a one-year extension to its contract with Positive Connections and a one-year contract with Compass Transportation. […]
District 65 to finish year with $3.4 million deficit, taking board by surprise
Kathy Zalewski, business manager of School District 65, advised the board’s Finance Committee on June 7 that the district anticipates it will close out its fiscal year ending June 30 […]
District 65 has capital needs of $189 million through 2030, but limited means to fund them
The District 65 School Board adopted a resolution on May 22 stating its intent to issue $6.5 million in working cash bonds pursuant to Article 20 of the Illinois […]