Parents groups criticize D65 budget errors

“It has been a hard couple weeks for anyone trying to follow District 65 finances.” That statement, from the community group Thrive 65, is hard to dispute, whatever your position may be regarding the proposed $20 million budget cuts, which include closing Dewey and Lincolnwood schools at the end of this academic year. On Sunday, Thrive, and a different group, some parents at Dewey Elementary School who are also lawyers, issued documents in advance of Monday’s D65 school board meeting. Both groups agree that the $27.35 million mistakes/corrections in District 65’s budget have eroded trust and need to be addressed. Thrive says “the financial errors … are unacceptable,” and a number of questons need to be answered. However, one of the group’s leaders, Lindsey White, also says that “Thrive 65 is calling for the board to move forward with the [budget cut] plan, because if anything, the errors make our financial position look worse, not better.” While Thrive says an independent financial review is needed, assuming the review is accurate, “We must fix this mess now. …Waiting another year to make cuts is irresponsible.” The Dewey parents/lawyers (in a letter from Christopher Grohman and Joshua Stern to the District 65 lawyer) take a different approach. That group had threatened to sue the district if the proposed budget decision happened Monday. Now that the board has pushed the action to Nov. 16 at the earliest, the Dewey group says they will hold off on suing for now, but intend to do so if the board votes to close the schools in question. The Dewey group also says that public hearings, required for school closings, will simply meet a paperwork requirement. District 65’s lawyer had said those sessions will fulfill the public input condition. But the Dewey letter maintains that “The outcome” of those hearings “appears to have been predetermined.” The Dewey parents say there is still time to “develop a plan … based on good data, meaningful input from the community, and thoughtful deliberation.” As with Thrive, the Dewey group also wants an independent review of D65’s financial projections, as well as answers to a number of questions. One thing does seem certain. Monday’s school board meeting will be a long one. Related