Stakeholders will find two major changes in the revisions. First, the approved policy updates the general dress appearance language as recommended by our Parent Teacher Advisory Committee. Secondly, the revisions eliminate the uniform color combinations, or “uniforms” most elementary and middle school students in Waukegan are required to wear to school. Effective next school year, students in prek- grade 8 will no longer be required to wear specific color combinations to school. Students will still be required to follow standard codes of appearance, which are outlined in the policy.

The Waukegan High School 2020 virtual graduation video will premiere today at 5:30 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. A program for the ceremony can be found here. If you are unable to watch live, the ceremony will be available to view following its initial airing on our District’s social media channels.

A meeting of the Board of Education Budget Committee will be held Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 6:00 PM. ​ As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting. Members of the public can join the meeting from a computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/423225093. There is also an option to dial in using your phone by calling 1 877 568 4106. When prompted, enter the access code: 423-225-093.

Waukegan High School will broadcast its 147th commencement exercise at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 29. An expected class of more than 950 students will make up Waukegan High School’s Class of 2020.

The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to the Student Appearance Policy 6041. The amendments accomplish two things. First, they update the general dress appearance language as recommended by the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee. Second, they also remove from the District's policy the option for individual school buildings to implement a dress color (aka uniform) requirement. The dress color removal was the recommendation of a second parent, teacher, administrator work group which polled the families in the District in reaching its recommendation.

Waukegan High School's Athletic Department announced the recipients of its annual athletics awards this week, including its Athlete of the Year winners, and leadership award winners.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session.

As we wind down our academic year, I want to again thank our families for the support they have provided to our students during our ongoing school closures. Your support has been very important during these times. There are two upcoming events we want to ensure are on everyone's radar concerning Remote Learning.

Registration for summer school at Waukegan Public Schools is now open. High school students will need to register through their school counselor. Parents of students in grades Kindergarten through 8 can register online at t.ly/itLY or contact your child’s school. A listing of parent support email addresses are listed in the school directory. Please register by Friday, May 29.

See below for information about senior equipment return dates, including details for music students, athletics, JROTC and more.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. The Student Achievement Committee will be held first, immediately followed by Operation Services.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 has again been recognized with a Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for the 2019-2020 budget year, from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO).

The Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 Board of Education appointed Mr. Daniel Hill as the new Co-Principal at Waukegan High School this week. Mr. Hill will serve as co-principal out of the WHS- Washington Campus beginning July 1.

-The Board of Education voted to approve the purchase of the partnership with Youth Guidance- BAM in the amount of $661,376 for the 2020-2021 SY. BAM (Becoming a Man) is a school-based counseling program that develops the social emotional competencies of students in grades 7-12, helping to ensure that young men are successful socially, emotionally, and academically and that they are prepared for life after high school.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session.

When the Governor announced last month that schools would not be returning to in-person instruction for this school year, we began the process of closing out many aspects of our school year. This includes evaluating student fees and activity fees to determine and calculate potential refunds for our families.

I want to again thank all of you for your efforts during the last eight weeks. Our staff’s ability to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances has been an important aspect in the continuing education of our students. To assist staff we hosted two Remote Institute Days last month. We hope you found these events to be informative, and helpful.

While we have worked together to navigate the ever-changing instructional landscape in recent weeks, we have spoken a lot about remaining flexible and fluid as best-practices and guidance change. We have seen a lot of changes in how teachers are instructing and how students are learning. Ultimately, this new approach also affects how students are graded. With our school district now more than halfway through its final grading quarter, we wanted to issue clarity to our stakeholders on student grades and grading windows.

We want to start out by saying how proud we are of our students for the maturity and grit they have modeled in recent weeks. We greatly miss seeing our senior students in the halls of Washington Campus and AOEC. We know how hard you have worked to get to your senior year, and how exciting this time of year should typically feel for you. We are sad we are unable to be together, to celebrate all of your accomplishments as you complete your WPS60 educational journey.

Registration is now open for students who will be returning to Waukegan Public Schools for 2020-2021. All Returning Students will be registered through the Parent Portal. Please login here to complete the process All parents and guardians must verify and update contact information.

Our District will be serving free meals for students at 117 locations throughout the community this week. Distribution days will be on May 5 and May 7.

The Illinois State Board of Education is sharing some valuable information for families regarding the State’s new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program. The program provides families extra money for food. Please see important details from ISBE’s announcement of the program below regarding program eligibility and sign-up. A full copy of the announcement can be found here.

Action Items -The Board of Education voted to approve the amendments to Board Policy 3331, Work Expenditures - Controls as recommended by the Administration and presented for second reading. Policy 3331 was presented to the Board for first reading on April 7, 2020 under its then title Travel Expenditures - Controls. Second reading is presented with the updated and expanded title of Work Related Expenditures - Controls. Minor technical changes are made in the second reading. Costs associated with this policy will vary from year to year and cannot be predicted at this time. The funding source similarly will vary depending on the originating source of the approved work expenditure. However, we anticipate the majority will be funded through the Education Fund.

During the last month and a half, we have been faced with unprecedented circumstances, and each of us has risen up to meet unique challenges, as we navigate this global pandemic. We have seen extraordinary efforts from staff, parents, and students, who are working to better themselves, their families, and their community.

As the Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 Board of Education prepares to vote on potential changes to its Student Appearance Policy, the Board is seeking additional feedback from stakeholders.

Our District will be hosting its second Remote Institute Day on Monday, April 27. Once again, during the day team members will engage in learning activities to enhance and further develop their ability to deliver and facilitate remote instruction and other services for our students.

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the special meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting.

Waukegan Public Schools is excited to announce that we are launching drive-up WiFi service at several of our school parking lots. We understand many individuals may lack reliable high speed internet at home. This new service will allow all students and staff to visit any of the schools listed below to connect to the WiFi from your vehicles.

As we move into another week of school closures, we have talked a lot about the importance of remaining fluid to adjust to required changes, and the reevaluation of our students' needs. We understand these are unprecedented times,and they require unprecedented efforts. With this in mind, our District has made the decision to expand its food distribution efforts.

The Board of Education will host its regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services committee meetings on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. The Operation Services Committee will be held first, immediately followed by Student Achievement.

This afternoon Gov. Pritzker announced that in-person learning is suspended in all Illinois schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This means that students in Waukegan, and across the state will not be returning to the classroom this school year.

In the fall of 2017, our school district, along with a large contingency of stakeholders, began the process of reviewing promotion practices and creating district-wide promotion policy procedures to ensure that all students are making adequate academic progress at critical benchmark grades throughout their educational career. In addition, the Board also reviewed and updated its policy 5215, now named Promotion and Retention of Students, Grades K-12.

The regular Board of Education meeting previously scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 has been canceled, as permitted under the Governor's Executive Order 2020-07. The Board met remotely on April 7 for a special meeting, during which time they took action on urgent items related to the ongoing COVID-19 school closures. A recap of that meeting can be found here. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 28. The Board will also meet for its monthly Operations and Student Achievement committee meetings on April 21. Those meetings will be conducted remotely, via GoToMeeting. Additional information on accessing those meetings will be made available at a later date.

As we prepare to close out the first week of Remote Learning Days in our district, we want to thank staff, parents and students for all of your hard work and attention during this newest chapter of instruction. All week we’ve seen many positive accounts about Waukegan students learning, and interacting with their teachers. It’s heartwarming to see this level of engagement with our new Remote Learning website.

The Board of Education voted to ratify the actions of the Superintendent and the COVID-19 Executive Team, which were necessary to respond to the public health crisis arising as a result of the unexpected and extraordinary circumstances associated with the COVID 19 pandemic; to preserve the health, safety and welfare of the District's students, staff and their families and to conduct the essential business services and operations of the District consistent with the Governor's Disaster Proclamation and subsequent Executive Orders affecting public schools, guidance and rule changes announced by the Illinois State Board of Education and other local, State or federal laws, such as the CARES Act.

Tomorrow marks the official start of our Remote Learning Days in Waukegan Public Schools. As we prepare to take this next step, there is a lot of information we wish to share with families. In this letter you can find information on how to access our remote learning resources, information on technical support, details of our new meal distribution sites, as well as various other important updates for the coming weeks.

A Special Meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session. As a result of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” Executive Order, the special meeting will be conducted remotely via GoToMeeting.

During a special announcement today, Governor Pritzker shared his decision to extend the State’s “Stay at Home Order” to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Governor's Executive Order is now in place through April 30, which means the earliest schools can reopen will be Friday, May 1. This opening date is once again subject to change as we await information and guidance from health experts. As a District, we would like to thank all our stakeholders for their patience and understanding as we respond to this fluid situation.

During the last few weeks we have hosted several food distribution events at our schools to feed our children while schools are closed. These events have served thousands of meals, and the need to continue these events is evident.

Waukegan Public Schools has just been advised that a staff member at our Lincoln Center administrative office tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing District closure. Our District is communicating and coordinating necessary responses with the appropriate health officials.

On Monday of this week, our District hosted food distribution events at five schools that were met with an unprecedented response from our families. To meet this need, we will again be opening some of our schools this week to distribute much-needed meals to our families.

Following Governor Pritzker announcement today, we wanted to provide a brief update detailing how the State’s “Stay at Home Order” will affect the District in the coming days.

Waukegan Public Schools has prepared the following questions and answers to share with its families, staff members and interested community members drawing from individual inquiries received to date. Please note that any of the answers provided may change at any time based on subsequent public health events and local, state, and federal guidance or orders. We will be updating this document periodically.

It has been a difficult time for everyone these last few days, as we adjust to an unprecedented set of circumstances. While much of our recent focus has been on how to best protect the physical health of ourselves and others, it is just as important that we are all talking about and taking steps to ensure we maintain our mental health, and that of our children. With this message, we hope to share valuable information from our District’s mental health professionals that will help parents guide their children through these unfamiliar circumstances.

It has been a difficult time for everyone these last few days, as we adjust to an unprecedented set of circumstances. While much of our recent focus has been on how to best protect the physical health of ourselves and others, it is just as important that we are all talking about and taking steps to ensure we maintain our mental health. Below we are sharing valuable information from our District’s mental health professionals to assist staff through these unfamiliar circumstances. You will also find information on how to access our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at any time.

In response to the rapidly-shifting COVID-19 pandemic, Waukegan Public Schools is taking additional cautionary measures to help ensure the safety of our students, staff and community at large. There are several important changes that we want to bring to the attention of parents, students and staff members:

Superintendent Plascencia released a special message today regarding the Coronavirus and school closures.

We know our families and staff have a lot of questions about the recent mandated closings. In an effort to answer some of these questions, we are creating a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) link on our website. Use the attached form to submit your questions

On Friday we announced that all Waukegan Public Schools will be closed during the week of March 16 as a precaution to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We will remain closed the week of March 23 as well, which is pre-planned Spring Break. Following our announcement, Governor Pritzker mandated a two week closure of all schools in Illinois. Waukegan schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, March 31 per the Governor’s mandate.

After careful consideration, a decision has been made to close all Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 schools beginning Monday, March 16, in order to best protect the health and wellness of all students and staff. All schools will remain closed through our Spring Break, and we plan to reopen on Monday, March 30.

We are writing again today to share our District’s latest updates regarding the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. We know there has been a lot of information to digest during the last 24 hours, and our district has continually been monitoring updates, and guidance from health officials.

Applications are now available for parents wishing to enroll their children in Waukegan’s Andrew Cooke Magnet School for the Fine Arts and Sciences in the fall.

As you may be aware by now, earlier today the Lake County Health Department (LCHD) confirmed the first case of a Lake County resident testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The individual is a male in his 50s, whom the LCHD reports is from the southern portion of our county.

Even after more than 100 years, Waukegan High School’s JROTC program is still setting new program milestones. Following a formal JROTC Program of Accreditation (JPA) inspection last month, Waukegan’s nationally ranked program learned it had been designated as an “Honor Unit with Gold Star Distinction,” which is the highest standing a JROTC Program can receive. The program earned a score of 98.5 out of a possible 100, which is the highest any squad has received in the program’s 103-year history.

Waukegan Public Schools is monitoring the health advisories related to the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The latest news and advice concerning COVID-19 can change rapidly. We are continuing to take direction from, and rely on the advice of health professionals from various organizations, including the Lake County Health Department (LCHD), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Four Waukegan Elementary Schools have been selected to receive Fuel Up to Play 60 breakfast grants. Students and staff at Clark, Hyde Park, Whittier and Cooke Magnet elementary schools learned last month their schools had been selected as recipients of the Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60) Breakfast Opportunity Grant.

Land owned by Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 may soon be home to one of the largest community solar fields in Illinois, as part of a project that could potentially save residents money on their electric bills, while generating lease revenue for District 60.

The Waukegan High School music department will host its Early Spring Concert Series on March 10 - 13. Below are dates and times for the student shows. Most concerts are free and all are open to the public.

Dear Waukegan Families, This week you likely heard that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued additional warnings regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). As a school district we have been monitoring the spread of the virus, and we remain connected to federal, state, and local agencies to gather critical information about its spread and its potential impact.

Dear Waukegan Community, I am writing today to express my disappointment related to the string of threats made toward our schools on social media in recent days.

Special Presentations -Representatives from Waukegan to College and Lake County United gave a presentation about the need for a school-based health clinic. -Representatives from the United Way of Lake County detailed some of the successes the organization has had with Waukegan Public Schools during the last decade.

Cooke Magnet School fifth grader London Jones will join the top spellers from throughout the county when she competes in the Lake County Final Spelling Bee at the College of Lake County on March 10.

Waukegan families are invited to join in the celebration of African-American history and culture during the District's second annual Black History Celebration. The event will take place on February 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick Street.

This Friday Waukegan High School's Theatre Department will debut its production of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." This classic comedic play tells the tale of four young Athenian lovers, and a group of six amateur actors, who encounter a group of mischievous fairies traveling through the forest.

Carman-Buckner Elementary School will host a Lake County Sectional Spelling Bee event on Thursday, February 20. Students from Waukegan-area elementary and middle schools will compete for an opportunity to compete at the Lake County Spelling Bee Finals next month.

The Board of Education for Waukegan Public Schools is in the process of evaluating its Student Appearance Policy, 6010. This policy includes language about school dress uniforms and general student appearance. School dress uniforms reference the uniform color combinations most elementary and middle school students in Waukegan are required to wear to school. As the Board reviews its policies, we are asking for input from parents, students and staff about dress uniforms.

This week the Board of Education approved calendars for the next three school years. The approved calendars cover years 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. These schedules were created by our calendar committee, which consisted of more than 20 individuals from throughout the District. The calendars were also shared with parents, staff and students in draft form prior to approval, so that we may receive feedback. We want to thank the more than 1,600 individuals who took time to complete our calendar survey.

The fall registration period for enrollment in Lyon Magnet School has begun. Enrollment is open to all WPS students living within the district's attendance boundaries. Families interested in enrolling in Lyon Magnet are required to submit an application, which can be found at the school, or can be downloaded here.

Mr. Edgar Castellanos has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 Board of Education. Mr. Castellanos was appointed during the February 11 Board Meeting to replace Mr. Michael Rodriguez, who resigned last month.

Special Recognitions -The Board of Education presented a Resolution of Honor in recognition of former Board Member, Mr. Michael Rodriguez, who stepped away from the Board in January after 13 years of service.

The winter session of District 60’s STEPS (English As A Second Language For Parents) Classes will begin February 10. These English classes are free for all Waukegan parents, and will be held every Monday and Wednesday at Washington Elementary School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. No prior registration is required, and enrollment for these classes will be ongoing.

For the second year in a row, Waukegan High School senior bowler Diego Cortez has earned All-State honors. Diego placed 9th at the IHSA State Bowling Finals on January 31 and February 1.

Waukegan families are invited to join in the celebration of African-American history and culture during the District's second annual Black History Celebration. The event will take place on February 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick Street.

The Board of Education for Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 will host Special Board Meetings on February 4 and February 5, 2020 for the purpose of interviewing candidates to fill the vacancy on the Board. Interviews will be held in Closed Session. The meeting on February 4 will begin at 6 p.m. The meeting on February 5 will begin at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held in Room 120 at Lincoln Center. No formal action will be taken at these meetings.

The Board of Education for Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 officially swore in Waukegan High School Junior, Van Weddle, as its newest Student Board Member on January 28.

Special Presentations - Waukegan High School Junior, Van Weddle was officially sworn in as the newest Student Board Member. Van will serve as a non-voting member until January 2021. -District staff and representatives of the Sheriff’s Office gave a presentation about a new Youth Mentoring Partnership program launching next month.

The annual Great Waukegan Pink-Out pep rally, basketball games, and related events are back again this year. The 10th annual Pink Out festivities kick off this Saturday, February 1, where the Waukegan High School boys’ and girls' basketball teams will all take on Mundelein High School at the WHS-Washington Campus.

Waukegan High School’s Brookside Campus will reopen tomorrow, January 28, following today’s nearby water main break.

As a result of a large water main break adjacent to the Brookside Campus, the school is dismissing early today. Water flow from the water main break has inundated the rear parking lot at the school, and it threatens to interrupt the school day. As a precaution, all students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.

District 60 is preparing to approve school year calendars for the next three years (2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023). Our calendar committee, made up of staff from across the District, created the proposed calendars based on feedback we have heard over the years.

January 23, 2020 Dear Waukegan Community I am writing today to share my feelings and frustration related to an incident that occurred at one of our high school campuses on Wednesday, January 22. Prior to dismissal at the Brookside Campus, there was a classroom altercation between three students, which resulted in two students seeking medical attention -- one for a laceration and another for back pain.

The Special Meeting of the Board of Education scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, for the purpose of reviewing, and possibly taking action on student discipline matters, has been canceled. As a result of a technical issue, the online agenda for the January 21 meeting was not viewable to the public for several hours. Therefore, in compliance with ILCS 120/2.02, the meeting is being canceled. A new Special Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, January 23, also for the purpose of reviewing, and possibly taking action on student discipline matters. The Board of Education will meet in closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. with an open session scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

In conformity with Illinois School Code section 105 ILCS 5/10-10, the Board of Education of Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 hereby gives notice that the application for persons desiring to be considered for appointment by the Board to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of School Board Member Vice President, Mr. Michael Rodriguez on January 14, 2020.

Special Recognition and Presentations -The Board of Education presented a resolution of Honor in recognition of former Carman School Principal, Ms. Isabelle Buckner. - Staff from Clearview Elementary presented on the school’s new Community Time is intended to promote positivity. - Representatives from Mano a Mano discussed the organization’s Census 2020 efforts.

Waukegan Public Schools will be hosting two Lake County exclusive premiere screenings of PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools in observance of Black History Month. The screenings will take place February 6 and 7, and begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Trapp Auditorium. Tickets are free, and can be reserved online here: https://tinyurl.com/uvnyo8p

Open House is an exciting and informative evening for parents and students to begin the transition process to Waukegan High School. During this event we will showcase the many wonderful opportunities our high school has to offer and respond to any questions that you may have. We hope that after participating, you and your son or daughter will have a greater understanding of the high school with regards to: course and program offerings, expectations and extra-curricular opportunities.

Waukegan families will have the chance to explore Chicago's Adler Planetarium during the District's upcoming Family Field Trip. The cost of the trip is $5, which covers admission to the Planetarium as well as transportation to and from the event. Families will have to preregister in order to secure a spot.

Update to yesterdays Water Main Break: Crews working on the break were successfully able to restore water service to Lightfoot and Clearview, and both schools will be open tomorrow, January 9. Bottled drinking water will be provided.

Washington Elementary School teacher, Ms. Erica Jacobo is among the most recently recognized National Board Certified Teachers by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Last month, Ms. Jacobo, a 3rd grade dual language teacher at Washington Elementary School, learned she was among a select number of educators across the country to earn NBPTS certification. Ms. Jacobo has taught in District 60 for six years, spending all of her tenure at Washington.

A water main break was identified today, Tuesday, January 7 under the Lightfoot Early Learning Center parking lot. Crews are on the scene and are working to repair the issue. It is anticipated that the break may be repaired overnight, and water will be restored to the buildings, however, there is a possibility that the work will not be completed in time for classes tomorrow. In the event that main is not repaired, or that adequate water service is not restored in time for classes tomorrow, both buildings will be closed on Wednesday.

Looking to stay better up to date on your child's academics? This Thursday, January 9, the District will be hosting its first Tech Talk, a series of informational seminars designed to familiarize parents with the various online resources available to them.

With first semester nearly over, it’s time to begin the course selection process for the 2020-2021 school year. Over the next several weeks, students will be actively involved in conversations with their teachers and counselors about their required and elective course options. We strongly recommend that parents get involved by talking with their students about their selection of courses and how it supports their post-secondary college and career goals.

With December now upon us, and extreme winter weather soon to follow, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone of cold weather policies governing Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60.

Students at North Elementary got an early dose of holiday cheer this week, when the school was gifted more than $17,000 worth of hands-on educational toys and winter apparel.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 will host a series of community forums over the next several months to seek input from community members about the potential future use of the Lincoln Center building. The Sheridan Road Facility Redesign Committee, which is made up of parents, community members, students and staff is hosting a meeting each month between December and May to discuss space which may be opening up at Lincoln Center.

The Waukegan Community Unit District 60 Board of Education is looking for current WHS sophomores and juniors to apply for its soon-to-be open Student Board Member position for 2020.

Three Waukegan student musicians performed at the Illinois Music Education Association’s (IMEA) District Senior Festival last weekend at Grayslake North High School as part of the IMEA’s District 7 Music Festival. The students performing over the weekend make up three of the four Waukegan High School student musicians selected to participate in either the IMEA Jazz or Senior Festival concerts this month.