A $17 million error now sits at the center of a heated debate over the future of two Evanston elementary schools. Newly uncovered financial projections from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 overstated capital spending by millions, according to a district official. This mistake directly informed a recently announced plan to close Dewey and Lincolnwood schools. Parents who found the error argue the flawed math undermines the entire proposal and are calling for a slowdown.
The issue came to light when David Azari, a Dewey parent with a background in finance, reviewed the district’s five-year projections. He noticed two separate line items for capital spending. One was labeled “Capital Outlay.” The other was “Other Financing sources and uses.” This seemed unusual. Alongside another parent, Alexandra Miller, he questioned whether the district truly planned to double its building maintenance budget for half a decade.
They brought their concerns directly to District 65 CFO Eric Miller. In an email exchange last week, Miller confirmed their suspicion. The projections had indeed counted capital expenditures twice. He explained the error did not mean more money was coming in. It meant the district would actually spend less on buildings than the public documents showed. The correction reduces projected spending by $1 million next fiscal year and by $4 million annually for the four years after. The total adjustment is $17 million.
This figure carries immediate weight. The district’s closure plan, unveiled on October 13, estimates shutting Dewey and Lincolnwood will save $14.5 million over five years. The newly admitted accounting error is larger than that total projected savings. For parents scrutinizing the plan, this discrepancy is not a minor detail. It strikes at the plan’s core financial justification. Alexandra Miller points out the district has yet to clarify how this $17 million correction affects the overall deficit or the scale of necessary cuts. This lack of clarity fuels distrust.
- The error involves a discrepancy of $17 million.
- Projected spending decreases by $1 million next fiscal year.
- Annual savings estimated at $4 million for the following four years.
- Closure plan projected to save $14.5 million over five years.
- Parents demand transparency in the financial data.
- CFO Eric Miller confirmed the error and engaged with parents.
The discovery has intensified calls for the school board to pause its scheduled November 9 vote. Azari outlined his concerns in an email to district leadership. He stated that without reliable data, the board and community lack the foundation to agree on any proposal with such profound impact. He described a process moving at an unsustainable pace, one ripe for mistakes despite the staff’s best efforts. His critique is not of individuals but of a compressed timeline that compromises thorough review.
Alexandra Miller echoes this sentiment, calling the error emblematic of a rushed process. She argues the community needs verified, clear financial data to weigh the profound impacts of school closures on teachers, students, and families. The current information, she feels, does not meet that standard.
Notably, Azari commended CFO Eric Miller for his direct engagement. He described Miller as prompt, attentive, and forthright in confirming the error. This professional interaction offers a potential model for how the district could collaborate with the community moving forward. It contrasts sharply with the frustration over the broader process.
The school board is expected to discuss the error at its October 26 meeting. The district’s communications office did not respond to requests for comment on how the correction alters the financial landscape or the proposed cuts. This leaves a critical question unanswered for parents and taxpayers. Is the drive to close schools based on an accurate picture of the district’s finances? For now, a $17 million oversight suggests the picture is still developing.
