Wow! So uh.. how did they get the original projection?
"Obafemi said he thought they could do a projection like that in about June 2024, because they will have broken ground next February or March, depending on weather conditions. He said once they break ground, administrators will be in a better position to start doing a projection that is reasonable."
I asked several members of the school board if they verified or even challenged Horton and Kelgati’s claims about financing being cost neutral. There’s scant record of scrutiny, so it would seem that they are either derelict in their duty to the voters or violating the open meetings law.
I have heard they discussed me in closed session .. a violation of the Open Meetings Act .. but there is literally nothing I or anyone can do. The whole idea of OMA depends on having at least one board member willing to call out OMA violations.
More great reporting from you Tom. Another issue D65 hasn’t yet addressed is how will they cover the cost overruns for the new school that are a certainty at this point. The district said that inflation has driven up the proposed costs of repairs and maintenance on existing buildings, yet this school is still going to be built for $40 million?
Aren't the proceeds from the sale of Bessie Rhodes supposed to be used to help pay for the new school too? I think I remembered hearing that awhile back.
Are the Board members responding to any inquiries about this? Are the obligated to respond? Is there any recourse other than voting for someone else? When is the next election? And the bigger question is, why isn’t any other media outlet picking this up and running with it? It seems like this Board presided over one financial screw up after another. I think the broad public should know as we move into the selection phase. Can you moonlight for the Roundtable?
Board members don't respond but they're not obligated to. I don't reach out to them individually for something like this but I do cc them on my inquiries.
Next election is 2025 assuming we all survive another hellish national election in 2024.
The Board of Education welcomes communications from the community. The Board of Education welcomes communications from members of the public regarding District operations. If contacted individually regarding a specific concern that can be addressed by staff, a Board member will refer the person to the appropriate channel of authority, except in unusual circumstances. Board members will not take private actions that might interfere with the work of administration.
Parental Involvement 8:110
In order to assure collaborative relationships between students’ families and the District, and to enable parents/guardians to become active partners in their children’s education, the Superintendent shall:
1. Keep parents/guardians thoroughly informed about their child’s school and education.
2. Encourage parents/guardians to be involved in their child’s school and education.
3. Establish effective two-way communication between parents/guardians and the District.
4. Seek input from parents/guardians on significant school-related issues.
5. Inform parents/guardians on how they can assist their children’s learning.
The Superintendent shall periodically report to the Board on the implementation of this policy.
OK? What is the point here? The Board is not required to reply or even be nice to me in matters that don't pertain specifically to my child's education. They don't owe me or you a response to anything.
Do I think they should chime in? Sure. But there's no obligation to do so.
Sounds like semantics he asked if they have to respond It doesn’t say obligated but it does say refer to appropriate Chanel of authority these are public officials with duties and responsibilities how is building a new school to right a previous wrong (which is cited because of white people left and right) not apart of any child’s education in the district I am honestly asking? These articles are questioning the finances of the project which could affect what services maybe removed or added later. I’m confused as to how this isn’t apart of a child’s ‘education’
“The system we happen to live in has been built on stripping black and brown people of their identities SO THAT they can experience our white normed world. The 5th ward school is a great local example. It was closed SO THAT the white schools could be integrated. …We currently, at a 4.3 million dollar expense bus black and brown students (not all, my white kids ride a bus) all over town as a result of that school closure which was stripped from the residents of the 5th ward. This is the only ward in Evanston without a neighborhood school.
Discipline policy punishes blakc and brown students at least three times more than white students. We changed that policy for the better
Dress codes police black and brown bodies more than white students to a similar degree. We changed that policy for the better.
Middle School Math Acceleration after a decade or more resulted in classes being taught by level with regular classes being black and brown students and accelerated being predominantly white. The textbooks were the same, the syllabus were the same. The teachers came to a board meeting asking for us to help them integrate the classes because the only difference was what they were called. We changed the policy for the better.
Bullying policies are in place and I would recommend your friend write a note asking for a bullying investigation if this is truly happening. Be careful, they are big and uncover a lot, but when bullying is happening the school must do something. Again, we have policy for this (7:180).”
This board member is right that much of our world is built on the labor of black and brown folks. If you view the bussing as something done *for* white people and believe this rights that wrong, then you should be in favor of building this school using honest financials. This is what I am advocating.
Nobody benefits when the school isn’t built and we have a ton of debt!
As for board policy 7:180, your interpretation as it *requiring* the board to listen and honor your complaints is wrong.
The biggest PR coup the Board was able to accomplish was to suggest that Ward boundaries have something to do with the schools. They are totally arbitrary and have no bearing on the schools.
If you really wanted a "Fifth Ward School" why didn't the district at least talk with the City about re-converting the Civic Center back into a school? It is in the Fifth Ward and the city doesn't need the space. You also could justify avoiding a referendum more plausibly by repurposing an old building.
If the Board is going to use this ridiculous "Ward" framing, they should at least be honest about it. The Board member is totally wrong in their assertion that "This is the only ward in Evanston without a neighborhood school." There are no District 65 schools in the First Ward. I live in the Second Ward and the only District 65 school we have is a magnet school, not a neighborhood school. Kids in the neighborhood are not guaranteed admission to the school. Of course the Wards in Evanston hardly correspond to neighborhoods. How can Second Ward businesses Sam's Club and the Hilton Garden Inn downtown be in the same "neighborhood"?
My kids have to travel to another ward for school! God Forbid!
Of course, NEVER, in the discussion about the school was an assertion that having a neighborhood school somehow translates to better educational outcomes. What we are going to have is a neighborhood school with big class sizes and overworked teachers because of the funding hole that the board is digging. It wouldn't be unwise to bet that educational outcomes will actually suffer as a result of this reckless spending.
And, of course, most "black and brown" kids in the city don't even live in the Fifth Ward. They will be going to other under-resourced schools in the district.
OK, well that still doesn't make sense when you look at the reality on the ground.
The African American population is higher in the eighth ward than the fifth ward. The fifth ward ONCE was the predominant black ward, but that is no longer the case. And that is the crux of the problem: the board and admin are operating without engaging with the contemporary reality.
IF we really think race is important, we should ask if there markedly different educational outcomes between the African American kids in the eighth ward--the predominantly black ward WITH a neighborhood school--and the fifth ward? Probably not. Where is the analysis?
They use the "Fifth Ward School" terminology and link the need for a new school to the closing of Foster in the 70s is because they are ENTIRELY driven by nostalgia. There is a small group of long-term residents who remember back to their childhood with fondness and want to replicate those halcyon days of yore. They don't like the changes that have occurred in the ward over the last 20 years--especially the ethnic diversification and gentrification in the ward. They want to "Make The Fifth Ward Great Again."
Nostalgia is a natural human sentiment. We all have it to some degree.
It is not, however, the sentiment that should guide education funding and investment. A $30 million dollar construction project that is taking money from the operating budget is irresponsible and--most importantly--will likely result in poor outcomes for the kids they purport to want to help as the district has to service this debt for years.
And of course, the ironic thing is that many of my friends in the real estate business here are predicting the new school will intensify the gentrification pressures in the fifth ward, which will cause further anxiety amongst the MFWGA crowd.
With a population ranging from around 1.1-1.2 billion people out of the global population of more than 8 billion, White people constitute around 15% of the global population
See also the interesting exchange between Mr. Hailpern and Mr. Obafemi reported in https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/06/12/d65-school-board-approves-two-busing-contracts-last-act-of-fy23/
Wow! So uh.. how did they get the original projection?
"Obafemi said he thought they could do a projection like that in about June 2024, because they will have broken ground next February or March, depending on weather conditions. He said once they break ground, administrators will be in a better position to start doing a projection that is reasonable."
You are doing God’s work. Thank you.
I asked several members of the school board if they verified or even challenged Horton and Kelgati’s claims about financing being cost neutral. There’s scant record of scrutiny, so it would seem that they are either derelict in their duty to the voters or violating the open meetings law.
I have heard they discussed me in closed session .. a violation of the Open Meetings Act .. but there is literally nothing I or anyone can do. The whole idea of OMA depends on having at least one board member willing to call out OMA violations.
More great reporting from you Tom. Another issue D65 hasn’t yet addressed is how will they cover the cost overruns for the new school that are a certainty at this point. The district said that inflation has driven up the proposed costs of repairs and maintenance on existing buildings, yet this school is still going to be built for $40 million?
Your guess is as good as mine but people I have spoken with that know the construction business better than I do, estimate it will be $45-48m all in
Aren't the proceeds from the sale of Bessie Rhodes supposed to be used to help pay for the new school too? I think I remembered hearing that awhile back.
Not sure. Will look into
Are the Board members responding to any inquiries about this? Are the obligated to respond? Is there any recourse other than voting for someone else? When is the next election? And the bigger question is, why isn’t any other media outlet picking this up and running with it? It seems like this Board presided over one financial screw up after another. I think the broad public should know as we move into the selection phase. Can you moonlight for the Roundtable?
Board members don't respond but they're not obligated to. I don't reach out to them individually for something like this but I do cc them on my inquiries.
Next election is 2025 assuming we all survive another hellish national election in 2024.
Communications To and From the Board 2:140
The Board of Education welcomes communications from the community. The Board of Education welcomes communications from members of the public regarding District operations. If contacted individually regarding a specific concern that can be addressed by staff, a Board member will refer the person to the appropriate channel of authority, except in unusual circumstances. Board members will not take private actions that might interfere with the work of administration.
Parental Involvement 8:110
In order to assure collaborative relationships between students’ families and the District, and to enable parents/guardians to become active partners in their children’s education, the Superintendent shall:
1. Keep parents/guardians thoroughly informed about their child’s school and education.
2. Encourage parents/guardians to be involved in their child’s school and education.
3. Establish effective two-way communication between parents/guardians and the District.
4. Seek input from parents/guardians on significant school-related issues.
5. Inform parents/guardians on how they can assist their children’s learning.
The Superintendent shall periodically report to the Board on the implementation of this policy.
OK? What is the point here? The Board is not required to reply or even be nice to me in matters that don't pertain specifically to my child's education. They don't owe me or you a response to anything.
Do I think they should chime in? Sure. But there's no obligation to do so.
Sounds like semantics he asked if they have to respond It doesn’t say obligated but it does say refer to appropriate Chanel of authority these are public officials with duties and responsibilities how is building a new school to right a previous wrong (which is cited because of white people left and right) not apart of any child’s education in the district I am honestly asking? These articles are questioning the finances of the project which could affect what services maybe removed or added later. I’m confused as to how this isn’t apart of a child’s ‘education’
You're very much overstating the political power of a board handbook
They never focused on anything except race, and don’t care if it costs a billion. Here’s what a board member emailed on sept 20,2021 (foia it if need proof). The bullying incident referenced was about a foreign family who’s 2nd grader was repeatedly being chocked unconscious on playground. It is interesting some of the most vocal board members (including the one who sent the below) were absent the groundbreaking build a statue to yourself event. https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/06/20/evanston-d65-dedicates-fifth-ward-school-site/?utm_content=buffer865eb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
“The system we happen to live in has been built on stripping black and brown people of their identities SO THAT they can experience our white normed world. The 5th ward school is a great local example. It was closed SO THAT the white schools could be integrated. …We currently, at a 4.3 million dollar expense bus black and brown students (not all, my white kids ride a bus) all over town as a result of that school closure which was stripped from the residents of the 5th ward. This is the only ward in Evanston without a neighborhood school.
Discipline policy punishes blakc and brown students at least three times more than white students. We changed that policy for the better
Dress codes police black and brown bodies more than white students to a similar degree. We changed that policy for the better.
Middle School Math Acceleration after a decade or more resulted in classes being taught by level with regular classes being black and brown students and accelerated being predominantly white. The textbooks were the same, the syllabus were the same. The teachers came to a board meeting asking for us to help them integrate the classes because the only difference was what they were called. We changed the policy for the better.
Bullying policies are in place and I would recommend your friend write a note asking for a bullying investigation if this is truly happening. Be careful, they are big and uncover a lot, but when bullying is happening the school must do something. Again, we have policy for this (7:180).”
This board member is right that much of our world is built on the labor of black and brown folks. If you view the bussing as something done *for* white people and believe this rights that wrong, then you should be in favor of building this school using honest financials. This is what I am advocating.
Nobody benefits when the school isn’t built and we have a ton of debt!
As for board policy 7:180, your interpretation as it *requiring* the board to listen and honor your complaints is wrong.
The biggest PR coup the Board was able to accomplish was to suggest that Ward boundaries have something to do with the schools. They are totally arbitrary and have no bearing on the schools.
If you really wanted a "Fifth Ward School" why didn't the district at least talk with the City about re-converting the Civic Center back into a school? It is in the Fifth Ward and the city doesn't need the space. You also could justify avoiding a referendum more plausibly by repurposing an old building.
If the Board is going to use this ridiculous "Ward" framing, they should at least be honest about it. The Board member is totally wrong in their assertion that "This is the only ward in Evanston without a neighborhood school." There are no District 65 schools in the First Ward. I live in the Second Ward and the only District 65 school we have is a magnet school, not a neighborhood school. Kids in the neighborhood are not guaranteed admission to the school. Of course the Wards in Evanston hardly correspond to neighborhoods. How can Second Ward businesses Sam's Club and the Hilton Garden Inn downtown be in the same "neighborhood"?
My kids have to travel to another ward for school! God Forbid!
Of course, NEVER, in the discussion about the school was an assertion that having a neighborhood school somehow translates to better educational outcomes. What we are going to have is a neighborhood school with big class sizes and overworked teachers because of the funding hole that the board is digging. It wouldn't be unwise to bet that educational outcomes will actually suffer as a result of this reckless spending.
And, of course, most "black and brown" kids in the city don't even live in the Fifth Ward. They will be going to other under-resourced schools in the district.
I just think they mean fifth ward in the colloquial sense, referring to the predominately black neighborhood in Evanston
OK, well that still doesn't make sense when you look at the reality on the ground.
The African American population is higher in the eighth ward than the fifth ward. The fifth ward ONCE was the predominant black ward, but that is no longer the case. And that is the crux of the problem: the board and admin are operating without engaging with the contemporary reality.
IF we really think race is important, we should ask if there markedly different educational outcomes between the African American kids in the eighth ward--the predominantly black ward WITH a neighborhood school--and the fifth ward? Probably not. Where is the analysis?
They use the "Fifth Ward School" terminology and link the need for a new school to the closing of Foster in the 70s is because they are ENTIRELY driven by nostalgia. There is a small group of long-term residents who remember back to their childhood with fondness and want to replicate those halcyon days of yore. They don't like the changes that have occurred in the ward over the last 20 years--especially the ethnic diversification and gentrification in the ward. They want to "Make The Fifth Ward Great Again."
Nostalgia is a natural human sentiment. We all have it to some degree.
It is not, however, the sentiment that should guide education funding and investment. A $30 million dollar construction project that is taking money from the operating budget is irresponsible and--most importantly--will likely result in poor outcomes for the kids they purport to want to help as the district has to service this debt for years.
And of course, the ironic thing is that many of my friends in the real estate business here are predicting the new school will intensify the gentrification pressures in the fifth ward, which will cause further anxiety amongst the MFWGA crowd.
With a population ranging from around 1.1-1.2 billion people out of the global population of more than 8 billion, White people constitute around 15% of the global population
If your point is that you as a white guy are some kind of underprivileged minority, that is a very dumb argument.
OK? What's your point?