DEC Signal

Monday, May 18th, the board meeting was the last regular meeting of the school year. Nichole Pinkard was elected board president and Chris Van Nostrand vice president, each by a 4-3 vote. The board discussed the futures of Kingsley and Bessie Rhodes following their end-of-year closures. Six organizations have expressed interest in Bessie Rhodes — including ETHS for a therapeutic day school — with an appraised value of $4.7 million, proceeds needed to close out Foster School construction. The City of Evanston is considering Kingsley for a new police and fire administrative headquarters, assessed at $3.5 to $4.5 million. No decisions were made. Community feedback sessions are scheduled at Kingsley on May 27th and Rhodes on May 28th at 6:30 p.m. DEC President Kelly Post closed the year by honoring retiring educators — more than 300 combined years of service — and the educators who kept teaching through one of the hardest years in this district's recent history. Rest well this summer. You have earned it.

DEC Signal is produced by the District 65 Educators' Council in partnership with The Signal Lab.

What is DEC Signal?

DEC Signal is the weekly podcast for District 65 educators. In under five minutes, get what you need to know—and what you need to thrive.

We cover what's happening in our district: staffing, budgets, school board decisions, and the issues affecting your classroom. But we also cover what helps you build a career: TRS pension and retirement planning, continuing education and endorsements, professional development opportunities, and how to advance in the profession.

DEC Signal is about more than news. It's about why your union matters—how DEC and IEA fight for your salary, your benefits, your working conditions, and your voice. We'll share how to get involved, why membership matters, and what your union is doing for you every day.

Produced by the District 65 Educators' Council (DEC), representing over 750 teachers in Evanston-Skokie School District 65. DEC is your union. This is your podcast.

New episodes every Monday morning.

Part of Signal Network, a product of The Signal Lab.