For some months now, Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Superintendent Paul Goren has been warning the board, teachers, and community about unprecedented structural financial deficits facing the district in coming years.
Now he plans to meet with the public in two information sessions next week to make his case.
The first will be held Tuesday, Dec. 6, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the King Arts Magnet School, 2424 Lake St. , followed the next evening at the same time at the Fleetwood Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St.
The problem, he explains, is not with the budget for this school year, which at $114 million is the district’s 15th consecutive balanced budget.
But next year’s budget begins with a probable $4 million deficit that balloons to more than $10 million by 2021, requiring the district to face hard choices, including the possibility for a bond referendum.
At the sessions, Goren promises to take a “deep dive” into the financial situation by analyzing previous budget balancing strategies and spending as well as potential options for addressing projected deficits through continued reductions and/or revenue increases.
concerned
Surely there are things being done at Evanston school that have little or nothing to do with the learning aspect of school. They should weed these things out and look to eliminate waste before finding way to raise taxes.