Several schools were on lockdown this morning, as a result of police activity in the city. Lockdowns were lifted at 8:31 a.m., after Waukegan Police determined the area to be safe. We will continue to work to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to ensure student and staff safety.

We are writing to provide an update on this morning’s lockdowns at several of our school buildings. As stated in an earlier message, schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution, after it was reported that individuals in two vehicles were allegedly shooting at each other while driving near the center of Waukegan, which is in the vicinity of several schools. The lockdowns were lifted a short while later after law enforcement determined a threat to those in the vicinity of the schools no longer existed.

Tickets now on sale for the Waukegan Association of Music Partners’ (AMP) annual Pasta & Pops dinner. The popular event, which will feature performances by the Waukegan High School orchestras, choirs, and bands, will take place on Thursday, October 6 in the gymnasium of WHS-Brookside Campus.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 was recognized last week with two communication awards as part of the Illinois Chapter National School Public Relations Association’s annual Communications Contest.

The Diverse Learners Department will be hosting a Diverse Learners Dinner and Resource Fair on Thursday, October 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Welcome Center, 742 W. Greenwood Avenue. Dinner will be provided for families who RSVP by October 5.

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in-person in the Lincoln Center Board Room, 1201 N. Sheridan Road. Closed Session will occur in Room 120.

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 was recently announced as recipient of the State of Illinois’ Teacher Vacancy Grant, which aims to address shortages in understaffed school districts statewide.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 has issued its Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Wraparound Center. Eligible not-for-profit and public entities are encouraged to review and respond to the RFP, which can be accessed here. The RFP process is a competitive, equitable process to review and select partner(s) to be located at Wraparound Center.

On September 19, 2023 the regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services Committee meetings will be held beginning at 6 p.m in the Lincoln Center Board Room. No formal Board action will be taken during the meetings.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins today, and District 60 is excited to begin its annual month-long celebration of Hispanic history and culture. Throughout the month our schools will immerse students in Hispanic history and culture, through various events, activities and lessons.

Waukegan Public Schools will host its first Parent-to-Parent Special Education Network of the school year on Thursday, September 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Welcome Center, 742 W. Greenwood Avenue. Families should enter through the Chestnut Street entrance across from the parking lot.

There is still time for families to sign up to participate in District 60’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. This year’s celebration of Hispanic history and culture will take place Friday, September 29 at Miguel Juarez Middle School, 201 N Butrick St. beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Waukegan Public Schools is kicking off its 2023-2024 free family field trips series with a visit to Richardson's Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois.

Waukegan Public Schools’ Department of Equity and Inclusion is seeking applicants to join District 60’s Equity Advisory Council (EAC) for 2023-2024 school year. Interested parents, staff or community members can apply to join the EAC by clicking here.

Last week we officially launched our Wraparound Center Needs Assessment. I want to thank those of you who have taken time to complete the online survey over the past several days. The survey can be accessed here. Responses to the survey are confidential. The deadline to complete the survey is September 11. In addition to our online survey we are also hosting a series of collaboration sessions that will allow stakeholders to talk through the needs they feel exist in our community, and how they can be addressed.

With a few weeks of school under our belts, we want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of daily attendance, while also providing details on our soon-to-begin attendance robocalls.

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 is again inviting all District 60 fathers and father figures to become more actively involved in their child’s education by taking part in the a new parent organization: D60 Dads of Great Students (D.O.G.S)

District 60 will be hosting an online presentation next month designed to help Diverse Learner families better familiarize themselves with their child’s Individualized Education Program. The presenters, from the Family Resource Center on Disabilities, are parents of children with IEPs and will share personal insights and experiences with families.

Waukegan High School is now accepting applications from groups interested in participating in its 2023 Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 22.

We are excited today to enter the next phase of our Wraparound Center planning process, as we launch our ever-important community Needs Assessment. This Needs Assessment will help shape the programming and support that will be offered at the Waukegan Wraparound Center, which is scheduled to open this fall in the lower level of our District’s new central office at 214 Washington Street.

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 will host its annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration next month as part of its observance of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Our District and schools routinely use text messaging (SMS) to communicate information with families. These messages are sent using School Messenger, a third-party mass communication platform which we use to send emails, phone calls and text messages using contact information on file.

Last week our District publicly presented information related to preliminary end of the year (EOY) student data from the 2022-2023 school year. Although there are areas of celebration and we are trending in the right direction, we understand there is still a lot of unfinished work to be done and we are not satisfied with these results. We want to commend the hard work and dedication of our students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators who serve our students daily.

Waukegan Public Schools’ Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department will again host parent training session of the 2023-2024 school year, as part of its Families Reinventing & Inspiring Education in D60 (F.R.I.E.N.D.S) parent and community member volunteering program.

The National Weather Service has issued an “excessive heat warning” for our area in effect for much of Wednesday and Thursday of this week. In anticipation of these rising temperatures, we are taking extra precautions to help keep students and staff safe. Below are some steps we are taking, as well as things families can do to help keep students cool.

As part of our District's ongoing efforts to build a culture of equity and inclusion for all students, employees, and community members, our District will again host a series of monthly Black Parent Network (BPN) throughout the school year.

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in-person in the Lincoln Center Board Room, 1201 N. Sheridan Road. Closed Session will occur in Room 120.

Waukegan Public School’s Versatrans’ “My Stop” bus tracking app will go live for the 2023-2024 school year on Monday, August 21.

District 60 will be hosting a series of online informational presentations for Diverse Learner families during the months of September and October, to help train parents on a variety of skills and techniques that will allow them to more effectively advocate for their child.

Tomorrow is the first day of the 2023-2024 school year, and I am very excited to welcome everyone back into our buildings tomorrow for another great school year.

On August 15, 2023 the regularly-scheduled Student Achievement and Operation Services Committee meetings will be held beginning at 6 p.m in the Lincoln Center Board Room. No formal Board action will be taken during the meetings.

The regularly scheduled August 8 Board of Education meeting has been postponed to Thursday, August 10, as a result of the original meeting not being noticed in a timely manner on the exterior of the Lincoln Center building, as is technically required by the Open Meetings Act. This was a result of a technology issue. The original meeting and agenda were properly noticed in a timely manner on the District's website as well as the District's BoardDocs site. Out of an abundance of caution, the meeting will be postponed to Thursday, August 10. A Special Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 7 p.m. for Open Session, 6 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in-person in the Lincoln Center Board Room, 1201 N. Sheridan Road. Closed Session will occur in Room 120.

THE AUGUST 8 BOARD MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO THURSDAY, AUGUST 10.

I am writing to provide information about a presentation made earlier this week to our Board of Education. Some of our administrative staff members presented a report on safety and security initiatives and programs for the upcoming school year. This presentation covers a wide variety of topics related to keeping our students, staff and visitors safe, such as recent security enhancements, proactive initiatives, different school-based strategies and more.

With school beginning on August 14, many of our district's schools will be hosting meet & greet and orientation events in the days leading up to the first day of classes. A list of events can be found below. Please note schedules are tentative and are subject to change.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 schools are again participating in Professional Learning Days this school year. These days will allow for additional professional development opportunities for staff members, and will result in altered bell schedules on these days.

Waukegan Community Unit School District # 60 was recently recognized with three communication awards as part of the National School Public Relations Association’s annual Publications and Digital Media awards.

The first day of the school year is three weeks away. As our families enjoy the final few weeks of Summer Break, I want to take a moment to remind everyone of important back-to-school information. Please see below for useful information that we hope will answer many of your questions in advance of August 14.

Waukegan Public Schools is excited to announce we will soon be rolling out a new facility scheduling and work order software. Later this summer FMX will officially replace SchoolDude. Our district-wide launch will take place in August.

A meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. for Open Session, 5 p.m. for Closed Session. The meeting will be conducted in-person in the Lincoln Center Board Room, 1201 N. Sheridan Road. Closed Session will occur in Room 120.