Evanston/Skokie School District 65 will hold three public sessions Oct. 20-22 where families, staff and community members can weigh in on what they want in the district's next superintendent.
The gatherings, hosted by the school board and Chicago-based search firm Alma Advisory Group, are scheduled for three consecutive evenings:
- Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton St., 6-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 — Foster Elementary School, 1600 Simpson St., 6-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 22 — Nichols Middle School, 800 Greenleaf St., 6-8 p.m.
Spanish interpretation will be available at all three sessions. Registration is optional but helps organizers plan, according to the district's announcement.
Input from the sessions will shape the leadership profile and priorities guiding the search. The board has said it wants a "generational leader" with strong financial management skills and a focus on student achievement.
Alma Advisory Group CEO Monica Santana Rosen outlined the search timeline at a Sept. 14 board meeting, first reported by the Evanston Roundtable. Candidate interviews could begin as soon as October. Meetings with finalists are planned for December and January, with the board's final decision expected in late January. The new superintendent would start July 1, 2027.
At that Sept. 14 meeting, Santana Rosen told board members that prospective candidates would review board meeting recordings before deciding whether to apply. She also acknowledged the district's financial pressures.
"If you all make some of those difficult decisions, your next superintendent may be walking into a district that's more stable than what the last superintendent inherited, … And that's a good thing, but it doesn't mean all the issues are resolved," Santana Rosen said at the meeting.
The search comes during a difficult stretch for the district. District 65 is preparing to cut roughly $20 million from its fiscal year 2028 budget, a plan that could close at least two more schools, ABC 7 reported. Former Superintendent Devon Horton's attorney said at a Sept. 30 pretrial conference that Horton would change his plea on 16 federal charges of wire fraud, tax fraud and embezzlement, the Roundtable reported. A forensic audit of district spending from 2020 to 2024, conducted by accounting firm Crowe LLP, was completed but had not been released publicly as of Sept. 22.
The board selected Alma Advisory Group on Aug. 17 in a 6-1 vote, with board member Mya Wilkins dissenting over budget concerns. The contract is capped at $95,000, Evanston Now reported. Board President Nichole Pinkard cited Alma's local experience as a factor; the firm conducted the Evanston Township High School (ETHS) superintendent search in 2022 that led to the hiring of Marcus Campbell.
Dr. Angel Turner, the previous superintendent, left June 30 under a mutual separation agreement. Dr. Eric Witherspoon, a former ETHS superintendent, is serving as interim through Jan. 31, 2027.
Alma will also conduct interviews and focus groups with principals, staff and community partners. The board plans to release a staff and community survey for additional feedback.
