Waukegan board adopts FY2025–26 budget after public hearing, staff warns of tighter finances

The Waukegan Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously Sept. 9 to adopt the district's FY2025–26 original budget following a public hearing and a detailed presentation from finance staff. Board President Rodriguez and other members approved the budget after hearing that the administration’s updated estimates reduced some revenue projections and that the district is planning cost‑cutting measures to limit impact on classroom instruction. The board heard from Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jasmine Polk, who opened the presentation: “It is our pleasure tonight to present to you, the original budget adoption information for FY 26,” and who outlined the district’s strategic budget process and assumptions. Polk told the board that updated grant numbers released since the last budget workshop reduced the district’s estimates by about $2.8 million, largely because evidence‑based funding and other grant carryover amounts were lower than originally projected. She said the loss in evidence‑based funding was the largest single change, describing it as roughly $2.2 million…