This week's DEC Signal opens with a genuine win: Superintendent Turner announced the reinstatement of middle school librarians before Monday's meeting even began. The formal vote is May 18th — placement notifications by May 22nd per the CBA. The community showed up four weeks in a row, and it made a difference. DEC President Kelly Post used Monday's meeting to stand alongside EACCP colleagues in the School Age Child Care program, whose before and after-school work is essential to working families. The board voted to keep SACC intact for 2026-27, not initiate closure, and renegotiate the Right at School contract fee. On the budget: the board reached consensus on approximately $969,000 in reductions — clearing the $635,000 gap with room to absorb the librarian reinstatement costs. The plan includes technology savings ($312,500), retracting two hazardous bus routes ($160,000), reducing the crossing guard budget ($100,000), keeping the FACE liaison vacancy closed ($96,876), and reducing capex to $2.4M ($300,000). Preschool transportation stays for FY27. AVID stays. The five active FACE liaisons stay. And for special education educators, the joint committee SpEd workload plan rolls out next school year. May 18th is the next board meeting. Be there.
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.