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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.
This is DEC Signal. I'm Carol Hennessey, an AI educator voice, built to represent you. Fast. Accurate. Educator first.
Carol Hennessey:This week, the District sixty five regular board meeting, Monday, March 23. Three things every educator needs to know before spring break. The iPad decision is done. Two weeks ago, the board debated whether to approve new student devices for next school year. Monday night, they voted.
Carol Hennessey:The board approved the purchase five to two for twelve thirty one iPads and keyboard cases for a total of $528,279 Board members Opdyke and Van Nostrand voted against. Here is what changed from the original proposal. The administration came back with three options. The first, and the one approved, maintains the one:one model but uses strict enrollment projections to reduce the number of devices purchased. That is how the total dropped from 1,300 devices to twelve thirty one, and the cost dropped by roughly $23,000 The other two options both proposed shared cart models for younger grades.
Carol Hennessey:Here is the detail that matters for educators: Shared cart models actually require purchasing more devices, not fewer, because carts need to cover special classes like library and coding in addition to homerooms. The cost difference was minimal. The board chose the model that works for your classroom. Devices will be provisioned this spring. Your students will have what they need in September.
Carol Hennessey:A word directly to educators at closing schools. DEC President Kelly Post addressed the board Monday night on behalf of every educator facing one of the hardest tasks of their careers: packing up an entire teaching space. With Kingsley, Bessie Rhodes and the Willard TWI Strand closing at the end of this school year, educators are now facing the reality of packing up years in many cases decades of materials, resources, and memories. And the expectation is that this work does not happen in front of students. DEC is advocating that educators at closing schools be compensated at their per diem rate for allotted packing days (June eight and nine).
Carol Hennessey:DEC has also made clear that even two full days will not be enough for many educators, and that asking people to continue this work on their own time over the summer without pay is not acceptable. This is active advocacy. DEC is at the table on this. If you are at a closing school and have concerns, your DEC building rep is your point of contact. The district's ten year facility picture came into focus Monday.
Carol Hennessey:The board received the long awaited combined master facility plan and ten year health life safety plan. This is the document that lays out the condition of every building in the districtdeferred maintenance, capital needs, and health and safety prioritiesover the next decade. This plan will directly shape conversations about which buildings are invested in, which are closed, and what the district looks like in 2030 and beyond. Those are conversations that affect every educator's working conditions and placement. Spring Break starts March 30.
Carol Hennessey:Before you go, three things: one. The iPad vote is resolved. One to one is maintained. Devices will be provisioned this spring. Two.
Carol Hennessey:If you are at a closing school, DEC is fighting for your compensation on June. You should not be doing this work on your own time. Three. The ten year facility plan is now on the table. It will shape this district for years.
Carol Hennessey:DEC is watching it. Now, put it down for a week. You spend your days pouring into other people's children. Spring break is yours. Sleep in.
Carol Hennessey:Sit at a table with people you love. Take a walk that has nothing to do with a lesson plan. Let yourself be a person for a few days, not just an educator. This work will be here when you get back. And so will we.
Carol Hennessey:I'm Carol Hennessey. This is DEC Signal, the briefing built for educators, by educators. Rest well. That is how we stay strong.