Monday's June 1st Committee of the Whole was the last board meeting of the school year — and this is the last DEC Signal episode before summer. Three things educators need to know. First, the board received an update on the Gender Advisory Team — District 65's Gender Support Plans for transgender and gender expansive students remain in effect. In the current national climate, educators should know their responsibilities: use students' names and pronouns, maintain confidentiality, and reach out to your building coordinator with questions. Second, Kingsley Elementary and Bessie Rhodes both close Friday, June 5th. The board discussed four options for each building — retain, lease, sell, or repurpose. No decisions made. Bessie Rhodes is already projected at $4 million on the FY27 balance sheet, needed for Foster School construction. Kingsley is valued at $4.5 to $5.5 million with the City of Evanston among interested parties. Third, the board began early-stage discussion on alternative approaches to the structural deficit. October is coming — and with it, the Lincolnwood decision point. DEC remains at the table. And to every District 65 educator ending this school year: you kept teaching through everything. Summer is yours. Rest well.

DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

Monday, May 18th, the board meeting was the last regular meeting of the school year. Nichole Pinkard was elected board president and Chris Van Nostrand vice president, each by a 4-3 vote. The board discussed the futures of Kingsley and Bessie Rhodes following their end-of-year closures. Six organizations have expressed interest in Bessie Rhodes — including ETHS for a therapeutic day school — with an appraised value of $4.7 million, proceeds needed to close out Foster School construction. The City of Evanston is considering Kingsley for a new police and fire administrative headquarters, assessed at $3.5 to $4.5 million. No decisions were made. Community feedback sessions are scheduled at Kingsley on May 27th and Rhodes on May 28th at 6:30 p.m. DEC President Kelly Post closed the year by honoring retiring educators — more than 300 combined years of service — and the educators who kept teaching through one of the hardest years in this district's recent history. Rest well this summer. You have earned it.

DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

This week's DEC Signal opens with a genuine win: Superintendent Turner announced the reinstatement of middle school librarians before Monday's meeting even began. The formal vote is May 18th — placement notifications by May 22nd per the CBA. The community showed up four weeks in a row, and it made a difference. DEC President Kelly Post used Monday's meeting to stand alongside EACCP colleagues in the School Age Child Care program, whose before and after-school work is essential to working families. The board voted to keep SACC intact for 2026-27, not initiate closure, and renegotiate the Right at School contract fee. On the budget: the board reached consensus on approximately $969,000 in reductions — clearing the $635,000 gap with room to absorb the librarian reinstatement costs. The plan includes technology savings ($312,500), retracting two hazardous bus routes ($160,000), reducing the crossing guard budget ($100,000), keeping the FACE liaison vacancy closed ($96,876), and reducing capex to $2.4M ($300,000). Preschool transportation stays for FY27. AVID stays. The five active FACE liaisons stay. And for special education educators, the joint committee SpEd workload plan rolls out next school year. May 18th is the next board meeting. Be there.

DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.