In a reversal of fortunes from earlier this year, TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 will proceed with an extensive reorganization effort, with nearly all of its member districts remaining on board.
During a leadership council meeting on Wednesday, the cooperative’s members voted to memorialize their decisions regarding whether to remain, withdraw, or stay undecided in relation to TrueNorth. Just one district — Glenview School District 34 — chose to withdraw, and another — Deerfield School District 109 — remains undecided.
TrueNorth provides education services to students with special needs in southeastern Lake County, such as those with autism, anxiety, developmental delays, emotional or behavioral disabilities, and other issues.
Earlier this year, several member districts had moved to withdraw from the district, saying they had expanded their own special education programs and services and no longer needed TrueNorth. That snowballed into all 18 participating school districts submitting letters of intent to withdraw from the cooperative.
But after months of discussions and planning around potential reorganization, including a proposed overhaul of the cooperative’s funding model, the member school districts voted Wednesday to either remain or continue with withdrawal, and TrueNorth will be moving ahead with reorganization.
Since the withdrawal shakeup began earlier this year, TrueNorth has seen a change of leadership. Former Superintendent Kurt A. Schneider joined Milwaukee Public Schools as an academic superintendent in June. In his place, leading TrueNorth are Interim Superintendents Jimmy Gunnell and Jim Nelson, who have more than three decades of combined experience as executive directors at similar cooperatives.
Mike Carrol, TrueNorth faculty association president, speaks during a leadership council meeting. In a reversal from earlier this year, nearly all of the education cooperative’s member districts plan to remain as it moves ahead with reorganization. (Joe States/Pioneer Press)
During public comments on Wednesday, Mike Carroll, the TrueNorth Faculty Association president, expressed the staff’s thanks to those involved in the reorganization process that helped stave off dissolution. Carroll requested a continued “commitment to transparency and timeliness” as the process, which will include extensive staffing reductions, continues.
“This has not been an easy year. The uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the future of our cooperative has been significant for staff,” Carroll said. “Our shared goal for this school year is to support every student as we navigate this transition.”
In a letter to the public earlier this year, Nelson and Gunnell had said they anticipated about half of the current TrueNorth administration and staff positions would be eliminated. On Wednesday, Gunnell said those cuts would be spread over two years.
What exactly that process would look like still needs to be finalized, Gunnell said.
As part of restructuring, gone also will be the superintendent position, replaced by an executive director.
Reorganization
In previous interviews and a September letter to families and staff, Gunnell and Nelson laid out the broad strokes of what reorganization will look like: “Significant changes to leadership, governance and funding models,” and making the cooperative “more focused and sustainable.”
School districts had initially moved for withdrawal because, in the decades since TrueNorth’s creation, they had expanded their own special education services. Looking ahead, TrueNorth will focus on the “complex and unique learners,” Nelson said, the “1% exceptional learner, those students that need more structure and support.”
James Nelson, co-superintendent of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative, speaks during a leadership council meeting. He and James Gunnell are leading the cooperative through reorganization. (Joe States/Pioneer Press)
“We’re working directly with the district representatives for special education to determine what those needs are,” Gunnell said. “That’s been a big change, to actually listen to what they need and design programs based on their needs.”
According to the letter, funding will shift to a “usage-based” model for member districts, rather than paying the annual membership fees or operations and maintenance assessments based on total student enrollment.
Usage charges will be partially offset by funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, with administrative expenses built into tuition and service rates paid by member districts based on usage, the letter said.
The reorganization will also include the sunsetting of some current programs and services, since member districts have “developed greater internal capacity,” the letter said.
Arbor Academy, and the three North Shore Academy elementary, middle and high schools will operate as a single therapeutic day school on the TrueNorth campus, the letter said, starting next school year.
TrueNorth will continue to offer early childhood programs to member districts, as well as transition services for students at the therapeutic day school through the school year in which they turn 22.
The cooperative will also continue providing member districts with access to contracted specialized services, including assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication, vision services, nursing coordination and one-on-one support, occupational and physical therapy, speech-language services, and psychological school-based services.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/truenorth-educational-cooperative-804-2/
