Evanston-Skokie School District 65 is recommending the closure of Lincolnwood and Dewey elementary schools, a move that would require 713 students across the district to change schools and form part of a broader effort to address a $5 million deficit. District leaders selected the two schools Tuesday, Oct. 13, after weeks of discussions with the community. They cited enrollment declines of 33% at each school. The proposal comes in the second consecutive year the district has announced school closures. The planned reductions go beyond school buildings. District cuts would eliminate more than 30 jobs in its on-site before- and after-school care program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The district is also proposing to end all transportation for pre-kindergarten students, which it estimates would save $700,000. Natalie Copper, president of Evanston Child Care Professionals, said the child-care program is important to families even though districts are not required to provide it. Parents pay to enroll their children, she said, and the program helps meet families’ needs. District leaders estimate that changes to child care and the Early Start program would save $1.2 million. Taken together, the school closures and additional cuts are projected to save $2.9 million a year and $58 million over 20 years. Copper urged district leaders to improve their financial management, saying the decisions affect children and families as well as the district’s budget. District 65 says it has no plans to sell either school property. The school board is expected to vote on the recommendation Nov. 9.