District 65 Recommended Closing Dewey Elementary
The proposal affects 300 students and would relocate the school’s bilingual program by fall 2027.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Primary Education
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Interim Superintendent Eric Witherspoon has recommended the closure of Dewey Elementary School as part of a $20 million budget reduction plan. The move would impact 300 students and require the relocation of the school’s bilingual English/Spanish TWI program.
Why it matters
This recommendation aims to address the district's financial stability through significant budget cuts. Families face potential shifts in school logistics, including new assignments to buildings like Foster or Washington Elementary and busing requirements for the bilingual program.
Dewey Elementary currently serves 300 students who would be reassigned to other district schools. Additionally, the bilingual TWI program is slated to move to Lincoln Elementary.
The players
Eric Witherspoon
As the Interim Superintendent of District 65, he provides administrative recommendations on district operations and financial strategy.
District 65 School Board
This body holds the final authority to approve or reject the proposed closure of Dewey Elementary School.
The details
The proposed closure is a component of a larger strategy to achieve $20 million in budget reductions across the district. Under the plan, students currently attending Dewey would be reassigned to other district buildings, while the bilingual TWI program would move to Lincoln Elementary, requiring busing for students traveling to that site.
Timeline
A PTA meeting regarding the proposal was held on October 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Parents dropped their children at school on October 14, 2026, following the initial recommendation.
Dewey Elementary School is planned to close by the fall of 2027.
The Home Front
This proposal reflects the ongoing challenge for Evanston school districts to maintain operations amid structural budget deficits. The closure follows a recurring trend in regional school planning where districts consolidate facilities to meet financial benchmarks.
Parents should monitor upcoming school board meeting agendas to track the final vote on the proposal. Families enrolled in the bilingual TWI program may also want to prepare for potential busing logistics associated with the planned move to Lincoln Elementary.
The takeaway
Budget restructuring in the district will likely result in new attendance zones for many local families. If you are a parent at Dewey, ensure your contact information is updated in the district portal to receive direct notifications about the board vote.
Further reading
Families can find more information on district changes in Primary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evanston Now.
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