On Monday, March 16, the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education unanimously voted against a proposed reduction in force (RIF) that aimed to cut around 97 staff positions for the 2026-27 school year to address a projected $12.4 million structural deficit.
The board held a public hearing in accordance with Section 24-12 of the Illinois School Code, inviting students, teachers and community members to share their views on the RIF before voting on the proposed honorable dismissals.
The hearing featured nearly 80 public speakers and lasted nearly four hours. A significant portion of these speakers were students advocating against the dismissal of staff members.
“I find the district’s recent actions to be a fundamental failure in management,” Naperville Central junior Alexa Miller said. “By mismanaging the budget, [the administration has] disrupted the lives of 38 educators, and by extension thousands of students who rely on them.”
Multiple Central students attended the hearing in support of social studies teacher and assistant softball coach Maria Connell, one of 38 teachers listed in the resolution authorizing honorable dismissals.
“These 38 [dismissed] positions represent mentors, coaches, club sponsors and trusted adults who shape the current culture of our school every single day,” Central junior Ariya Ashok said. “When removing teachers like Mrs. Connell, [the administration is] not just adjusting staffing numbers, but removing support systems for our students.”
Students referenced Connell’s dedication to her students, often going beyond job requirements to ensure their physical and mental safety. Community members added that teachers like Connell are involved in coaching sports and sponsoring activities, meaning their removal would disrupt teams and organizations that ultimately depend on them.
“Hearing people talk about [Connell] in such a positive way and seeing how we all came together as a community for these teachers [made] me very emotional,” Ashok said. “We see a lot of stuff that older generations might not see, and I think it’s important for students to understand that their voice matters, and that if they see an issue, they can do something about it.”
Naperville North students also attended Monday’s hearing in support of algebra teacher and track and cross country coach Will DeBolt. Members of the boys cross country team praised his commitment in both the classroom and athletics. They also presented a petition with more than 1000 signatures asking the board to reconsider the RIF resolution.
“Debolt is an uplifting leader and role model for all of his students and athletes,” NNHS senior and cross country runner Carson Harris said. “He is not someone the district can afford to let go as part of a budget cut because the impact he could have on this district over the length of his career is worth far more than [the administration] could ever pay him.”
The student body also voiced logistical concerns over the RIF proposal, arguing that the mass dismissal would overwork remaining teachers and result in larger teacher-to-student ratios, decreasing the overall quality of education around the district. Many criticized the board’s increased spending on transportation hubs and facility renovations, arguing that budget priorities should be given to educators.
“Buildings do not teach students,” NCHS senior Gavin George said. “Plans and infrastructure do not inspire students, and [the] board does not interact with students every single day. Teachers do. If we are facing difficult financial choices, we should be prioritizing the people who have the greatest impact on students every single day.”
Some students proposed alternatives to the massive RIF, suggesting the district phase out budget cuts over time rather than dismissing teachers all at once.
“The district has a huge Rainy Day fund, and I think this classifies as a rainy day,” Harris said. “[The administration] could span this over the next three to five years by paying teachers from this rainy day fund and [allow] the natural rate of attrition to [play out], instead of, in one year, panicking and firing 38 valuable teachers and staff members who have such a positive impact on students’ lives.”
A significant portion of student speakers and supporters came from Kennedy Junior High, expressing frustration over the dismissal of social studies teacher Matt Spisak. Students gathered over 170 petition signatures in a single day and wore blue #KeepSpisak T-shirts to Monday’s hearing. Spisak, who previously attended Kennedy and then Naperville Central, was quoted by many parents and students as “the embodiment of school spirit”.
“[Mr. Spisak] is always willing to provide a helping hand to any student who needs it, even if the problem isn’t school related,” KJHS eighth grader Sophia White said. “When you cut [teachers], you are prioritizing budget numbers over the future of students.”
Student support extended beyond the hearing. Multiple Naperville Central teachers planned to wear red or school spiritwear on Friday, March 13, to show solidarity with staff facing dismissal (“Red for Ed”).
Members of the girls lacrosse team could also be seen on Friday sporting the color red or their lacrosse spiritwear in support of “Red for Ed”.
“When I heard that, it really motivated me to make sure our whole girls lacrosse team participated as well,” said NCHS senior and varsity lacrosse captain Ellen Small in a written statement. “Wearing red was a simple but meaningful way for us to show support and demonstrate that students do care, that we recognize the effort and dedication our teachers put in and that we stand with and support them.”
During the event, members of Central’s girls lacrosse team shared links enabling students to submit anonymous feedback to the district board.
“I think this situation was a test of our student community, and I am proud of how many of us stepped up to the challenge and stood up for what we believe in,” Small said. “At the end of the day, schools exist to support students, so student voices should always be considered in those decisions.”
Some students who could not attend the hearing took other forms of action. Central sophomore Keya Chitnis, for example, emailed board members, encouraging friends and family to do the same. Chitnis also created appreciation letters for her teachers, citing NCHS math teacher and dance coach Julissa Esquivel as inspiration for her advocacy.
“[From] a teacher’s perspective, I would be so happy to see that my students care about me, [and] doing little things to show support [would] mean a lot,” Chitnis said. “A lot of people underestimate students and think that our say won’t do anything, but clearly, just [looking] at last night, it did do something.”
Following the public comment portion of Monday’s hearing, board members had the opportunity to present their individual opinions.
“This is, in my five years on the board, the most presenters we have had, and every single one of them was a unified voice,” board member Amanda McMillen said. “It’s just really a testament to how amazing our educators are because they are literally changing lives.”
The hearing closed well after midnight on Monday with all seven members of the BOE voting against the RIF resolution.
“The concern shared over our teachers is a testament to the high caliber of our district’s staff and the deep connections they build with students, ” Superintendent Dan Bridges said. “I want to acknowledge the difficulty that this is for not only the staff that are impacted by this, but for our entire community.”
Looking ahead, the District 203 Board emphasized that finding a viable solution to the district’s budget deficit is of the utmost priority.
“I just loved how unique and personal so many of the students’ words were,” Central social studies teacher Randy Smith said. “[While] it doesn’t necessarily wave a magic wand of solution to the fiscal challenges our district has, it’s exciting to see, in the midst of the challenging times in our country, [students] speaking their voice to the institutions that affect us.”