Kathy Zalewski, the Evanston/Skokie District 65 business manager and chief school business official, announced her resignation at the end of this school year. She has been a valuable member of the district’s business office for 23 years, starting in May 2001. Zalewski’s last day on the job will be June 28. The district expressed their gratitude for her contributions over the years and confirmed that she is the latest in a series of administrators who have left District 65 in the past year.
District 65 spokesperson Hannah Dillow stated, “We will certainly miss her; she has been invaluable to our District 65 Business Team for the last 23 years. We wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors and have plans in place to ensure a smooth transition.” With Zalewski leaving, the district now needs to find a new chief financial officer and business manager. The CFO position has been vacant since August 2023, when Raphael Obafemi left to join Oswego District 308.
Zalewski is not only leaving but also joining a growing list of administrators who have resigned or announced their plans to leave District 65 in the past year. Former Superintendent Devon Horton, Dean of Culture and Climate Elijah Palmer, Chief of Staff Markisha Mitchell, and others have also left or announced their intention to do so. During a public hearing about the potential closure of Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, former board member Rebeca Mendoza thanked Zalewski for her service and expressed concern about the district’s financial future.
Mendoza noted that many key figures involved in the Fifth Ward school plan are now gone, including Zalewski. Dillow confirmed that the district is actively searching for a new CFO and business manager. In the meantime, they are working with Dr. Robert Grossi and his firm Illuminate Inc., as an independent financial advisor to help guide them through this process until they find someone qualified enough to fill these important roles.
