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.

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 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 # 60 will host Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 23.

On October 14, 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.

Over the past week, we have seen an increased presence of immigration officials in Waukegan’s streets and neighborhoods, and I understand firsthand the fear and uncertainty this has created for our students, families, and staff. As a Latina and a member of this community, I understand the sadness and frustration many of you are feeling, and I share the concerns families have for the safety of their children and loved ones.

District 60’s Bilingual & Multicultural Department invites all EL families to join us for our upcoming Parent University Academia 60: BPAC Elections!

Last night, Waukegan Public Schools hosted a YouTube Live event to share an overview of the District’s financial health and the recently approved Fiscal Year 2026 budget. We appreciate the community members who joined us, and we want to make sure everyone has access to this important information.

This fall, students in grades 8 through 11 will participate in Pre-ACT testing. The Pre-ACT provides valuable insight into whether students are on track for college and career readiness, and it helps guide future planning and support. Freshmen will test on October 9. Eighth graders, sophomores, and juniors will test on October 16. All testing will take place at each student’s school campus. This will be the first year that eighth graders participate in the assessment.

This is a reminder about an important upcoming deadline related to student medical records and immunization requirements. The Illinois Department of Public Health requires certain immunizations and exams before students can attend school. In accordance with state law, students who do not have updated medical records on file or proof of an upcoming appointment can be excluded from school after Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Across our community, we know that concerns around immigration enforcement have increased. We want to acknowledge the stress this may cause for many families, and reassure you that District 60 is closely monitoring developments while remaining firmly committed to keeping our schools safe, supportive, and welcoming for every student and family.

Waukegan Public Schools is kicking off National Bullying Prevention Month this October with a month full of activities, events, and learning opportunities to promote kindness, unity, and respect in our schools. This year’s theme is “Be Kind, Be Great, Be You!” To show our shared commitment, every student and staff member will receive a bracelet to wear throughout the month.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our two recent live information sessions on immigration-related topics. We are grateful to the Center for Immigrant Progress for partnering with us and providing such valuable information and resources to our community.

Waukegan Public Schools is partnering with the Center for Immigrant Progress to host the second part of our two-part virtual information series on important immigration-related topics tonight, September 29.

District 60 is partnering with the Waukegan Fire Department this fall to support our families with important fire safety resources and events.

We are committed to being transparent and keeping our community informed about the financial health of our district. Over the past several years, we have been intentional about taking steps to be fiscally prudent, strengthening our financial position, earning recognition for our practices, and achieving improved credit ratings thanks to the excellent work of our finance team.

District 60’s Family and Community Engagement Department will continue its series of Parent University events this week with a special presentation on helping middle school and high school parents prepare for next month’s Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Families can now use the Stopfinder app to securely track their child’s school bus in real time. Stopfinder is a free, easy-to-use mobile app that provides instant access to route information and helps improve communication about transportation.

Tickets are now available for the Waukegan Association of Music Partners’ (AMP) annual Pasta & Pops dinner, taking place on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

A regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 23, 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.

We are excited to remind you about the Yeoman Creek Community Solar Farm program. More than 400 Waukegan households have already applied to take part in this initiative.

Waukegan Public Schools is partnering with the Center for Immigrant Progress to host a two-part virtual information series focused on important immigration-related topics. Both sessions will be presented in Spanish and English at 6 p.m. on our District’s YouTube channel.

Rayeanne Nickerson, an Instructional Support Teacher at North Elementary, has been recognized as a Chicago Bears “Classroom Legend.” The program, in partnership with CDW, celebrates Chicago-area teachers who go above and beyond for their students.

We are aware of reports of federal immigration officials present on the near north side of Waukegan today, and we want to assure you that there have been no reported issues at any of our school buildings.

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.

***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.

District 60’s Diverse Learners Department will host its first Parent-to-Parent Special Education Network support group meeting of the school year on Thursday, October 2, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Welcome Center, 742 W. Greenwood Avenue.

Later this month, Waukegan Public Schools will roll out the Stopfinder bus tracking app, a new, easy-to-use mobile app that provides real-time updates on your child’s school bus.

Waukegan Community Unit School District #60 is proud to announce that Waukegan High School Senior Yasir Espinoza has been selected to serve on the Illinois State Board of Education’s Student Advisory Council (SAC) for the 2025–2026 school year.

On September 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 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.

Now that we are in September, Waukegan Public Schools will begin conducting state-mandated safety drills required each year in all of our buildings. These drills include fire, lockdown, bus evacuation, and tornado or shelter-in-place exercises. Each one plays an important role in helping students and staff know how to respond in the event of an emergency.

The first day of the school year is just three weeks away! I hope you are all enjoying the final weeks of Summer Break. As families prepare to return to our schools, we wish to provide reminders 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 11.

The Illinois Department of Public Health requires a number of immunizations and exams before students can attend school in the State of Illinois. Below is a detailed list of those requirements and the grades affected by each prerequisite. Parents are asked to please plan for the 2025/2026 school year and begin scheduling these immunizations and exams soon. If missing any required immunizations or a physical, students may be subject to exclusion from school starting October 15.