A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, and 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in person in the Educational Service Center Board Room, 214 Washington Street. Closed Session will occur in Room 112.

Waukegan High School seniors Yasir Espinoza and Javier Granda have earned full four-year scholarships through the QuestBridge National College Match program, a national college access program that partners with leading colleges and universities to offer full scholarships to outstanding students. Yasir matched with Northwestern University, and Javier matched with Princeton University, securing early admission and full scholarships that cover the entire cost of attendance.

Waukegan Public Schools will host a free meal distribution event for families to kick off Winter Break on Friday, December 19 at the Waukegan High School - Brookside Campus, 2325 Brookside Avenue. Meals will be available between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Families may pick up food by driving up to door 25, which is located at the back of the Brookside Campus. Families will be asked to stay in their cars, and students are not required to be present to pick up meals.

The next session in District 60’s Parent University series will take place on Thursday, December 11, and will focus on how families can support their children during an e-learning day prompted by inclement weather. This week’s session will guide families through what to expect during an e-learning day, how attendance and participation work, and what students and parents will need at home to be successful.

A Special Meeting with Closed and Open Session of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. On December 9, 2025, the Board of Education will meet for its regular monthly micro meeting. The meeting will be conducted in open and closed sessions beginning at 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 214 Washington Street. The Board’s monthly Student Achievement and Operations Services committee meetings will follow the micro meeting at approximately 7 p.m. in the Board Room.

District 60’s K-8 theater program, the Waukegan Performing Arts Company (WAUK-PAC) is holding auditions for its upcoming production of Mary Poppins Jr. later this month. Auditions will be held on Thursday, December 18, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Cooke Magnet School, 522 Belvidere Road. All K-8 students are welcome to audition.

We want to provide an update following this afternoon’s plumbing issue. Our maintenance and operations teams worked quickly to identify the issue, address the plumbing problem, and begin cleanup throughout the building.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for school concerts, and Waukegan Public Schools students have several shows planned in the upcoming weeks to fill you with holiday cheer.

Winter has arrived more intensely than in past years, as we have already experienced several rounds of harsh weather. As we move further into the season, we would like to remind families of our district’s cold-weather policies and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Sudden temperature drops and snow can create challenging conditions, and it is essential that families are aware of what to expect as we navigate the months ahead.

Waukegan High School’s Washington/AOEC Campus Assistant Principal, Ms. Sheonta Myers, has been named the recipient of the Illinois Principals Association’s “Reaching Out and Building Bridges Award”, recognizing her as one of Lake County’s standout educational leaders.

The meeting has been canceled and will be rescheduled for a future date.

s Thanksgiving approaches, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to each of you. This season always reminds me how fortunate I am to serve as Superintendent of such a caring and resilient community. What stands out most every year is the way our families, staff, and students support one another. That sense of unity is the heart of our District, and it shines through in everyday moments that make our schools special.

At last week’s Board of Education meeting, we shared an important overview of our students’ performance on this year’s state assessments. Many of these themes are connected to the Illinois Report Card data we released last month, but this presentation provides a more detailed look at how our students are progressing academically. You can view a video of the presentation here. We are encouraged by the continued progress across our district.

Waukegan Public Schools will host a free meal distribution event for families during Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 26 at the Waukegan High School - Brookside Campus, 2325 Brookside Avenue. Meals will be available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Families can pick up food by driving up to door 25, which is located at the back of the Brookside Campus. Families will be asked to stay in their cars, and students are not required to be present to pick up meals.

Waukegan High School’s winter sports season is officially underway as the Bulldogs prepare to hit the court for their annual “Meet the Bulldogs” event on Friday, November 21. The evening will kick off at 4 p.m. with a matchup featuring our middle school teams, giving families a first look at the future of Bulldog basketball.

Miguel Juarez Middle School Principal Nelson Campos has been named the Illinois Principals' Association's (IPA) Lake Region Middle School Principal of the Year.

Waukegan Public Schools is committed to ensuring that students feel safe, supported, and valued in our schools. As part of this effort, we have launched Safety & Climate Surveys for students in grades 4 to 12, staff, and families. Links to the surveys were sent directly via email to families, students, and staff. The surveys are brief and designed to gather feedback about safety, respect, and overall school climate. Responses will help our district understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made.

Hear ye, hear ye! Tickets are now on sale for the annual Madrigal Dinner hosted by the Waukegan High School Music Department. This year’s feast is set to take place over two nights, on Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6.

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, and 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in person in the Educational Service Center Board Room, 214 Washington Street. Closed Session will occur in Room 112.

Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 joins school districts across Illinois in celebrating School Board Members’ Day. Observed annually on November 15, Board Members’ Day is an opportunity to recognize and thank the unpaid volunteers who serve school districts across the state. These individuals work tirelessly for the benefit of their stakeholders and provide a vital voice for the communities they represent. This year’s theme is “The Heart of Local Education!”

Our district is finalizing proposed calendars for the next three academic years. Before presenting them to the Board of Education for approval, we are seeking feedback on several key aspects of the calendars.

This is a reminder that our November Black Parent Network (BPN) meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. The meeting will be hybrid. You can join us in person at the Waukegan High School – Brookside Campus library or via Zoom, whichever works best for you.

District 60 is excited to invite families to its next Parent University session, scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, at 6 p.m. on the District’s YouTube Channel. This session, led by members of the District’s College and Career Readiness department, will provide participants with an overview of the College & Career Readiness Platform, SchooLinks.

On Monday, November 10, 2025, the Board of Education will meet for its regular monthly micro meeting. The meeting will be conducted in open and closed sessions beginning at 6 p.m. at the Educational Service Center, 214 Washington Street. The open session will be held in the Board Room. The closed session will be in Room 112. The Board’s monthly Student Achievement and Operations Services committee meetings will follow the micro meeting at approximately 7 p.m. in the Board Room.

District 60’s K-8 theater program, the Waukegan Performing Arts Company (WAUK-PAC) will debut its next production,Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition, later this month. Nearly 70 Waukegan students representing seven elementary and four middle schools make up the cast and crew of the production.

District 60 is excited to invite families to its next Parent University session on Thursday, November 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Waukegan High School – Brookside Campus Library.

The Waukegan High School Theatre Department will debut its production of "Maricela de la Luz Lights the World" on November 14-16 in the Trapp Auditorium of the Waukegan High School-Brookside Campus.

The Waukegan High School Student Council invites all District 60 elementary students and their families to its annual Fall Festival event on Thursday, November 13, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the WHS- Washington Campus Cafeteria, 1011 Washington Street. Participants are asked to enter through door 28 off of Jackson Street.

A Special Meeting with Closed and Open Session of the Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 112 at the Educational Service Center. Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (16), the discussion will be held in Closed Session. The subject will be self-evaluation, practices and procedures, or professional ethics, and the meeting will be conducted by a representative of the IASB. The meeting will begin in open session in the Board Room and then move to closed session in Room 112. The meeting will adjourn from Room 112. No action will be taken during the open session.

Many of you may have seen or heard about today’s incident circulating online, showing federal immigration officials entering Warren Township High School in Gurnee to apprehend an external individual who ran into the building while fleeing ICE officials. Like many others, I am deeply disturbed by what we saw.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) today released the annual Illinois School Report Card, which highlights how schools and districts across the state are progressing toward a wide range of educational goals. This year’s Report Card reflects data from the 2024-2025 school year. Stakeholders can view their district or school’s results by visiting www.illinoisreportcard.com.

It’s that time again! Our November Black Parent Network meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18, from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. This meeting will be hybrid, so families can participate in person in the Waukegan High School – Brookside Campus Library or virtually via Zoom.

District 60’s Family and Community Engagement Department will continue its series of Parent University events this week with a special presentation covering District 60’s Promotion Policy.

District 60’s Bilingual & Multicultural Department, as part of its Parent University Academia 60, will host officer elections during its next Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting on Thursday, November 13, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the library of the Waukegan High School - Brookside Campus, 2325 Brookside Avenue.

As we conclude National Bullying Prevention Month, Waukegan Public Schools thanks our students, staff, and families for helping promote kindness, unity, and respect throughout October.

***THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO A YET TO BE DETERMINED DATE*** A Special Meeting with Closed and Open Session of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Room 112 at the Educational Service Center. Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (16), the discussion will be held in Closed Session. The subject will be self-evaluation, practices and procedures, or professional ethics, and the meeting will be conducted by a representative of the IASB. The meeting will begin in open session in the Board Room and then move to closed session in Room 112. The meeting will adjourn from Room 112. No action will be taken during the open session.