Duncan Agnew

Evanston

Managing Editor at Evanston RoundTable

managing editor @EvRoundTable | previously: @texastribune @injusticewatch @nbn_tweets @BetterGov | @medillschool grad | dominating pub trivia since '98 | he/him

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Articles

Families weigh school closure criteria at District 65 community meeting

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

About 50 people turned out to the Chute Middle School cafeteria on Thursday night to share their thoughts on how District 65 should consider school closures going forward. After running significant budget deficits in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, and projecting another deficit of more than $10 million for fiscal year 2025, the district has cut a total of nearly $20 million between this year and next year combined.
District 65 unveils new sustainability plan

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

After Evanston Township High School adopted a Green New Deal of its own in 2024, which set specific goals for the building to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and become a zero-waste facility by 2045, District 65 has devoted the last six months toward developing a similar policy.
Trump administration freezes $790 million in Northwestern funding, NY Times reports

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

President Donald Trump’s administration has frozen $790 million in grants and government contracts for Northwestern University, the New York Times reported on Tuesday night, citing information from two unnamed officials. The university has not heard from Trump’s administration about the alleged freeze, NU spokesperson Jon Yates told the RoundTable.
District 65 bringing dual language to Nichols, Haven Schools in fall of 2026

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

This school year is the first in a six-year process in which Evanston/Skokie District 65 plans to bring dual language programs in Spanish and English to local middle schools, expanding the long-running and popular two-way immersion (TWI) program offered at some elementary schools. The first pilot of sixth grade dual language classes is happening now at the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, and that will expand to seventh grade at Bessie Rhodes this coming fall.
Tariffs and Foster School: Construction mostly unscathed, but furniture could be hit

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

With the Trump administration imposing nearly universal tariffs on all imports last week, District 65 school board member Biz Lindsay-Ryan asked Director of Strategic Project Management Kirby Callam at Monday’s board meeting about potential impacts to the cost of constructing Foster School.
3 firefighters suspended, 2 reprimanded for wearing Trump masks on duty

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

The City of Evanston ultimately disciplined five firefighters for posing for a photo in Donald Trump masks while on duty in uniform on Jan. 20 — Inauguration Day — at Fire Station 3 on Central Street, according to disciplinary action forms obtained by the RoundTable through a public records request.
WBEZ's Dixon to interview author Colm Tóibín in Evanston on April 15

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

Hear author Colm Tóibín discuss his most recent novel, Long Island — and more — with WBEZ’s Morning Edition host Mary Dixon at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 at First United Methodist Church, 516 Church St. Doors open at 6 p.m.Perhaps the most widely-read writer in contemporary Irish literature, Tóibín is the author of 11 novels and a number of other works of non-fiction. He’s been three times short-listed for the Booker Prize.
District 65 starts cuts with removal of two administrative positions

2 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board started the process of cutting 73 positions — including 26 from the central office — at its meeting last month, unanimously approving the “honorable dismissal” of two top administrators: Chief of Academics and Schools Management Lydia Ryan Menzer and Director of Science Alissa Berg.
Election aftermath: Kelly and Davis claim victory, what's next for Boarini

3 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Alex Harrison |Duncan Agnew

All but two races — for the First Ward and Seventh Ward seats on the City Council — resulted in concessions and victory celebrations on election night. But time to count additional mail-in ballots brought some clarity on the results of both contests after 48 hours. First Ward candidate Stephen Hackney told the RoundTable he called opponent Clare Kelly to concede the race Wednesday morning, writing he doesn’t “think there will be too many mail-ins left” to close the gap.
District 65 election: Anderson and Pinkard pull ahead

3 weeks ago | evanstonroundtable.com | Duncan Agnew

With all 53 precincts across Evanston and Skokie reporting on Election Day, as well as early and mail-in votes received through Tuesday, two candidates for District 65 school board — Patricia Anderson and Nichole Pinkard — had separated themselves from the field of 12 as of Wednesday morning (see the latest available results here).