Evanston/Skokie CC School District 65 New School Referendum ...

Evanston/Skokie CC School District 65
New School Referendum Committee Minutes: April 14, 2011
(Approved as amended 4/28/11)
Members present: Jerome Summers (Co-Chair), Katie Bailey (Co-Chair), Kirby Callam, Pat Gregory,
Katy Hart, Susan Hope Engel, Lloyd Shepard, Drew Stover, Jean Luft, Dr. Hardy Murphy. Absent: Kim
Weaver, Tammy Johnson, Paul Goren, Betsy Jenkins. Consultants and Staff: Gloria J. Woods
(Facilitator), Dr. Patricia Widmayer (Documentarian), Paul Brinson (Chief Information Officer)
Charge to the Committee: Determine the feasibility for building a new school based on space
needs and community interest and support. The Committee’s success will be measured in deliverables,
which in this case are specific recommendations to the Board of Education regarding a new school, and
documentation to support the specific recommendations.
Next meeting: The Committee will meet on Thursday, April 28th, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Nichols Middle
School Library, 800 Greenleaf Street, Evanston.
Meeting convened: The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Co-Chair Jerome Summers, in
the Oakton Elementary School Library. Mr. Summers then turned the meeting to Ms. Gloria Woods
acting as the Committee’s facilitator.
Minutes: It was moved by Mr. Summers, and seconded by Ms. Bailey, to accept the minutes of the
March 24, 2011 Committee meeting as written. The motion was unanimously approved.
Presentations and Discussion: The committee addressed three issues:
1. District 65 busing and census data for Evanston’s 5 th Ward:
Mr. Stover made a data request in an e-mail to the Board members on the Committee, the
Superintendent, and the Chief Information Officer subsequent to the last meeting, and in response to
the request to address further questions to Mr. Brinson. His inquiry, which was read into the record,
was:
“Specifically, several committee members have stated that 600 students are bused from the 5 th
Ward. Can you provide me with data in support of that assertion As a corollary, can you
provide data as to the number of students bused in the entire district, with a breakdown as to
how many students are bused on a per school basis (e.g., how many students are bused to
Oakton, etc.), as opposed to a Ward basis Also related, do you have any data showing the
max/min/median/avg distances students travel on a per school basis
Finally, I thought I overhead at the last meeting that the population of the 5 th Ward decreased in
the most recent 2010 census. Do you have any information about that It is my understanding
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that the population of Evanston overall was essentially unchanged in the ten years since the last
2000 census.”
In response to this inquiry, there are two replies:
● Student numbers and eligible busing numbers in the 5 th ward, and census data showing the
growth of the Evanston population from 2000-2009 by age.
Mr. Brinson distributed the attached charts (see Attachment #1) at the meeting, which showed: (a) the
elementary attendance area map for the 5 th Ward, (b) the number of students by 5 th Ward area (noted
as #1 Core Area, #2 West & South of Evanston Township High School, “3 known as Willard Island, & 4
East of Green Bay Road), (c) the number of students enrolled from that area and their ethnicity, and (d)
the total number of students eligible for busing.
It was highlighted that there are 716 District 65 students, K-8, in areas #1 & #3 alone -- all of whom are
enrolled in schools outside their geographic neighborhood -- and an additional 129 students in area #4,
exclusive of the children enrolled at Park School or in pre-school at JEH. Adding the students at Park
School and in the preschool programs at JEH, there are a total of 1164 students in areas #1, #3, & #4.
Another way to interpret the numbers is that slightly less than 30% of all students eligible for busing in
District 65 live in areas #1, #3, and #4, affecting perhaps as many as 700 families.
It was further highlighted that the 2000-2009 census data from the American Community Service (ACS),
shows a significant increase in children ages 1-5 (+1,500) which tracks the District 65/Kasarda data.
● Mr. Summers reply to Mr. Stover’s inquiry about the busing and census data.
Mr. Summers read the first two sentences of his response, and requested that his full reply be entered
into the minutes.
“ From my perspective, what is important in the ‘600 bussed out’ number is not the exact
figure which fluctuates from year to year and decade to decade. What is important is that Every-
Single-Child with a minimum of 400-600 children each and every year are bussed out, walked
out, permissive transferred out, or otherwise removed from their Fifth Ward home and each
other, for over forty years.”
(The full text of the conversation between Mr. Summers and Mr. Stover appears as Attachment #2.)
Discussion of the 5 th Ward area of concern.
The Committee adopted the term, “5 th Ward, Central Core,” bounded by McCormick, Green Bay, and
Church Street as the area of concern. This area roughly aligns with the attendance boundaries of the old
Foster School.
Discussion followed regarding the culture of the 5 th Ward in the Central Core that evolved prior to the
1970s when the students in the neighborhood went to Foster School and the Emerson Street Y was a
gathering place. However, the point was made that those who now reside in that neighborhood, and are
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in their 40s or younger, have not had the advantage of the same culture since the children now go to
multiple schools.
#2. Committee discussion for final agreement on Space Projections and Next
Steps.
A memo summarizing the data from the School Resources Analysis Report distributed to the meeting on
March 14 th was discussed by the Committee. The data, “Information for the New School Committee,
4/7/11,” was provided to the Committee prior to the meeting, is on the District 65 website, and is
attached to the minutes (Attachment #3). Mr. Brinson noted that the data, showing the Kasarda
projections through 2019-20, were adjusted to reflect actual 2010-11 enrollment which was higher by
120 students than expected.
Ms. Woods then shared a handout with the committee (see Attachment #3) that framed four questions:
●Does the Committee accept that the student enrollment projections through 2019 based on Kasarda as
sufficiently reliable to make a specific recommendation for additional space/classrooms to be
constructed
●Does “some” space needed for District 65 over the next 5-10 years mean that the Committee agrees
District 65 will need 20-27 new classrooms + the addition to Lincoln School by 2015 as the projections
suggest
●Does the Committee accept each of the assumptions 1 or are there specific ones that need to be
discussed Previously, the Committee also voted to add the assumption that, “It is important in District
65 for students to go to school with their neighbors.”
Vote: Following discussion, the Committee voted unanimously to reaffirm that, “District 65 needs
additional space at both the elementary and middle schools based on the assumptions.”
Mr. Summers then noted that the Committee should consider not just space, but what kind of education
District 65 should provide for students, and the implications of this education in determining future
space needs.
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• No classrooms less than 600 square feet at elementary level schools
• Elementary classroom enrollments average 20 students
• Middle school classroom enrollments average 25 students
• Art has a dedicated room (at each school)
• 80% of capacity is not exceeded
• Target classroom square foot allowance is 32 square feet per child
• Special education, TWI and language programs remain at their current schools
• Full sized classrooms dedicated to a convenience purpose (e.g. childcare, teacher lounge, etc.) are repurposed as general education
classrooms
• In addition, it was tacitly assumed that the magnet schools remain as magnet schools with the same configuration.
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#3. Questions for the next Committee meeting.
The Committee determined that two conversations are need at the next meeting and that votes need to
be taken.
First, a matrix was created with the three options that the committee wishes to consider for providing
additional elementary and middle school classroom space in District 65. The Committee members
further framed four key questions to be asked regarding each option:
● What would be the cost and funding source for each option
● How does each option fit with Evanston’s community values
● What would be the diversity impact of each option
● What would be the impact on student success
OPTIONS PROS CONS
Add classrooms
Redistrict
Create new school
a. Construct new school
(which would be from
bond funds)
b. Charter (which would be
outside funding and
jurisdiction)
c. Lease space (which
would be funded from
operating)
Second, It was requested the Dr. Brown, District 65 Chief Financial Officer attend the meeting to assist
the Committee members in understanding the capacity of the debt service and the potential for adding
the necessary space without a referendum.
Presentations about charter schools (Andrew Broy) and about the potential for creative financing
(McMurray) were deferred to the May 12 th meeting.
Further, the development of a plan to obtain community input or to “take the pulse” through a survey
and/or focus groups was deferred. Two committee members indicated that it is more important to have
a plan for marketing/educating those who could be most affected by a new school.
Public Comment:
• Ms. Emma Logan expressed that, from her personal experience, the busing of students from the
5 th Ward Core Area, including her children, was a failure from the every beginning with
unfortunate consequences. This should be remedied now by the construction of a new school in
the 5 th Ward.
The Committee meeting was adjourned by Mr. Summers at 9:22 p.m.
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Attachments
#1. District 65 Information Services Data Supplement 1: Assorted tables showing numbers of students
by geographic sub-area, bus rider eligibility, and Evanston City 2000 census population compared to
2009 population estimates, April 14, 2011
#2. E-mail conversation between Mr. Jerome Summers and Mr. Drew Stover regarding Mr. Stover’s
request for data regarding students bused from Evanston’s 5 th Ward to schools across District 65, April 1,
2011
#3. District 65 Information Services Summary Enrollment Projections and Space Needs Memo to the
New School Committee, 4/7/11.
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Evanston/Skokie School District 65
New School Committee
Data Supplement 1
Assorted Tables Showing
Numbers of Students by Geographic Sub‐Area,
Bus Rider Eligibility, and
Evanston City 2000 Census Population Compared to
2009 Population Estimates
April 14, 2011
Prepared by District 65
Information Services Department
Transportation Department

Elementary Attendance Area Map with 5 th Ward
2

New School Area Key
Areas 1, 3, 4 comprise the
5 th Ward
Area 3 is the Willard Island
Area 2 is an area that
might be included in the
New School attendance
area
3

Enrollment Information for Students in Areas 1, 3, 4
(Based on SISK‐12 Enrollments)
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ATTACHMENT #2: E-mail conversation between Mr. Jerome Summers and Mr. Drew Stover
regarding Mr. Stover’s request for data regarding students bused from Evanston’s 5 th Ward to schools
across District 65, April 1, 2011
RE: New School Committee Thursday, March 31, 2011 3:11 PM
"Stover, Andrew"
summersford65@yahoo.com, brinsonp@district65.net, baileyk@district65.net,
supt@district65.net, weaverk@district65.net, "Jerome Summers"
“I’m not sure who can gather this information, but I wanted to renew this request for additional information. Specifically,
several committee members have stated that 600 students are bused from the 5 th Ward. Can you provide me with data in
support of that assertion As a corollary, can you provide data as to the number of students bused in the entire district, with a
breakdown as to how many students are bused on a per school basis (e.g., how many students are bused to Oakton, etc.), as
opposed to a Ward basis Also related, do you have any data showing the max/min/median/avg distances students travel on a
per school basis
Finally, I thought I overhead at the last meeting that the population of the 5 th Ward decreased in the most recent 2010 census.
Do you have any information about that It is my understanding that the population of Evanston overall was essentially
unchanged in the ten years since the last 2000 census.”
Andrew_Stover
RE: New School Committee
To Drew Stover
From: Jerome R. Summers
Friday, April 1, 2011 11:30 am
Perspective
From my perspective, what is important in the ‘600 bussed out’ number is not the exact figure which fluctuates from
year to year and decade to decade. What is important is that Every-Single-Child with a minimum of 400-600 children
each and every year are bussed out, walked out, permissive transferred out, or otherwise removed from their Fifth
Ward home and each other, for over forty years. Pick any year in any decade and you still come up with a whole
school’s worth of children removed from their community and their neighbors no matter what.
I don’t know how to look these children in the eyes and make this okay. I don’t know how other people look their
children in the eyes and explain this away or just ignore it. No other neighborhood, including yours, tolerates this to
be done to their children. This is an ugly educational anomaly. It is contrary to the educational culture of our city. This
flies in the face of how Evanston presents itself to America and to the world. This has educational and social
repercussions for the whole child and our whole city, not just the Fifth Ward. It is an unequal educational opportunity
for hundreds of children from one community for decades. This is not just numbers we’re talking about here. These
are not just statistics. These are real people, Evanston children, from a distinct Evanston community, many of whom
come from families that have been here for generations.
The numbers and capacity are a very important conversation. I don’t dispute that. You
absolutely have every right to ask these questions and hold your perspective. The
numbers can be your ‘watershed issue.’ That’s fine too. What I’m saying is that other
people have other ‘watershed issues’ that are every bit as important as yours.
We haven’t even talked about a world of educational opportunities and formats, or
how we can be an exceptional model for what a diverse American school system could
be, or how to fund expansion in one form or another. These and more are watershed
issues for other people. They also have a right to discuss and hold their perspectives.
This is a far bigger conversation than just how many children are on a bus, capacity, or the results of a census tract.
People have put the well being of their children in our hands. This is about how we embrace, nurture, and protect
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every child in our care. How we treat our children exposes who we are as human beings, our vision of the world, as
well as who we are not. This is about what we stand for.
What is the best possible outcome we can strive to do for ALL of the children in our
district right now and into the future
Mr. J.R. Summers
April 1, 2011
RE: New School Committee Friday, April 1, 2011 12:37 PM
"Stover, Andrew"
"'Jerome R. Summers'"
"Hardy Murphy" , "Paul Brinson" ,
"'baileyk@district65.net'" , "'weaverk@district65.net'"
Thank you Mr. Summers.
I appreciate your thoughts and perspectives and look forward to continuing our dialogue. I have never questioned the
right of anyone to express their views about the many complicated issues facing this committee, or suggested that
other people's issue are less important than my own concerns. I certainly hope that no one feels that way.
At the same time, I believe that is important for us to have as much information as possible when making our
decisions. I think one thing I've struggled with is the concept of the 5th Ward as a neighborhood. I didn't even know
what my Ward boundaries were until I started this process. I don't think of my Ward as being my neighborhood, or
everyone in my Ward as being my neighbors. Rather, that is limited to a much smaller area surrounding my home.
Thus, for example, would families living in the 5th Ward near ETHS consider themselves neighbors, or in the same
neighborhood, as families living in the 5th Ward east of GreenBay/Ridge
Conversely, it seems like the families in the 5th Ward close to Kingsley, and within that school boundary, are in the
same neighborhood. I think it will be helpful to me to get a better understanding of what neighborhood is being the
most adversely affected. Will our analysis change if the Wards are redistricted after the 2010 census
While I agree, as noted by my vote the other night, that it is valuable to have the choice to go to school with one's
neighbors, there is always some constraints on that principle, with boundaries necessarily being drawn. Indeed, I
know that in my own area, there are families sending their kids to different schools since they live on opposite sides
of an arbitrary boundary. At the same time, I think it is absolutely necessary to take out of the equation the kids that
choose to go to a magnet school, TWI program or otherwise seek a permissive transfer. I know several families
(neighbors) from my neighborhood that choose to bus their children to other schools. As such, those students are
bused out of the neighborhood, but by choice.
My interest in obtaining data about busing (and the census) is to get a better understanding of how kids in the entire
district are currently affected by the boundaries currently in place, and what trends are developing for the future. For
example, it seems to me that Walker's boundaries are fairly far reaching. I'd just like to understand the data from a
more global perspective of the entire community, not just the 5th Ward.
While I understand that others may have other watershed issues, I believe it is important to have and consider all of
the relevant data and information. Indeed, on the issue of finances you mentioned, it seems to me that a new school
will invariably increase the operating costs of D65, as opposed, for example, to adding space at existing schools,
whether by requiring additional administrators, maintenance heating/cooling, etc., or further funding a lease, etc. With
the district facing shortfalls next year and beyond, it is important to consider how this increase will affect the overall
educational oportunities for all students in the district, including the 5th Ward. Will class sizes have to be increased,
programs cut, etc. to make up for the increase As Dr. Murphy mentioned, many of these options are not "tolerated"
by our community. As such, I think is imperative that we develop an understanding of the costs associated with the
various options, and not just push aside all of the data and build a school when that may have a detrimental affect on
all students of the Evanston community, including the 5th Ward.
Thanks for listening,
Drew Stover
RE: New School Committee
To Drew Stover
From: Jerome R. Summers
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4/3/11 Response
Perspective Cont.
Please allow me to give you some historical background. I also encourage you to look
at the documentary film provided to us by Susan Hope Engel (Unforgettable), and to visit
Shorefront at the Family Focus Building for an even more extensive look.
Do you remember in the second meeting we talked about filters We are literally hitting a cultural, historical,
geographic, and perhaps racial filter right now. For example, the sanitary channel, and Green Bay Rd. are not only
physical barriers. They are also cultural barriers. Ebenezer, Second Baptist, and Mount Zion churches (each over 100
years old) have the oldest Black (and still thriving) congregations in the city. Please note that all of themare east of
Green Bay Rd. and very close to or in downtown Evanston. That’s because
Black people lived over there. The part of the 5th ward east of Green Bay has always been in the ‘mainstream.’ But at
the turn of the 20th century, Black people were ‘banished’ to that smelly-swampy land along the channel bank and
away from the lake. Houses of Black people were physically moved to the 5th Ward west of Green Bay. To a smaller
degree the same happened north or east of the channel. This area extended from McDaniel Ave. and Church St. in
the 5th Ward (and extended south into the 2nd Ward along the channel) all the way to the Walgreens on Simpson
and Green Bay Rd. This area IS ONE neighborhood. It was in essence its’ own little town inside of Evanston like
China Town or Greek Town in Chicago. Every family in that whole area knew each other because all the children
went to the same school in the 5th Ward, Foster School. Even now Black people in Evanston still ask other Black
people, “Who is your family What church do you go to” This whole area is most certainly a neighborhood. {There
were covenants that Jewish people could not buy a home in Evanston at all. That did not change until the 1950’s or
possibly 1960’s. But that’s another story.}
Until this very day, people think of the 5th ward (west of Green Bay) as the Black community. A whole vibrant and
thriving culture emerged. It included institutions: a Black hospital (Community Hospital), The Emerson Street YMCA,
a school (Foster Elementary), and a recreation center (Foster Center – now Fleetwood Jordaine). This neighborhood
also had a large array of Black owned businesses: restaurants, stores, cleaners, a pharmacy, gas stations, night
clubs, and grocers, etc. It was the predominant home of all kinds of professionals, intellectuals, doctors, lawyers,
teachers, craftsman, and trades people of every variety. Imagine Central St., Dempster St., or Main St. in a Black
community.
Strong communities across America have home owners, places where people worship, businesses, and a school.
Neighborhood children are now removed from their natural supportive environment where they are expected to do
well. Bonds are broken. There is no commonality of experiences with each other. Neighbors become strangers.
This is probably a better face to face conversation. I hope this provides a little insight.
Mr. J.R. Summers
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Information Services
Memo
To:
Dr. Hardy Murphy
From: Lora Taira
Date: 4/7/2011
Re:
CC:
Information for the New School Committee
Paul Brinson
The following table shows the number of additional classrooms needed district-wide. This is based
on the School Resource Analysis report that was shared with the New School Committee on March
24, 2010. The numbers below assume construction at Dewey and Willard during the summer of
2011 and Lincoln during the summer of 2012.
School
Number of Classrooms Needed
Lincolnwood 4 - 6
Oakton 2 - 4
Orrington 2 - 4
Haven 6 - 10
Nichols 6 - 7
Total 20 - 31
In order to address the question of whether or not the projected increase in enrollment through 2015-
16 is a bubble, Kasarda’s Series A, B, and C district projections are included. Please note that
Kasarda’s Series C projections were the most accurate when looking at district enrollments the
current year. Series A and B projections indicate a peak enrollment in 2016-17. The enrollments
then stabilize through 2019-20 (a difference of -47 students and -10 students respectively). Series C
projections peak in 2018-19. All series project the 2019-20 enrollments to be higher than the 2015-
16 enrollments. Based on Kasarda’s projections, the district can anticipate larger enrollments going
forward into the next decade.