The Waukegan Board of Education on a 6-1 vote approved a resolution declaring the Welcome Center at 742 West Greenwood Avenue surplus and authorizing sale by sealed bid with a minimum price of $900,000. The resolution was moved by board member Riddle and seconded by board member Fabian; President Rodriguez cast the deciding yes vote after roll call.
Board discussion focused on where ongoing welcome-center services would operate, the cost of holding unused property and anticipated capital needs if the district kept the building. Administrator Moulton presented the recommendation, saying the district had already relocated student registration, bilingual and special-education screenings and McKinney-Vento services to other district facilities and that the Welcome Center is "no longer needed for district purposes." He also described deferred maintenance needs, noting the property "needs a lot of TLC" including roof, mechanical and plumbing work.
Officials said the building’s annual operating expenses are roughly $23,000 and that two full-time employees currently support the Welcome Center (a custodian and a courtesy officer). Moulton told the board the district acquired the property in 2007 for about $1.2 million and said selling now would avoid ongoing upkeep costs and allow redistribution of furniture and equipment to other district needs.
Several trustees pressed for additional detail before moving forward. Board member Hannah voted no and asked whether holding the building and leasing it instead had been considered; administrators said leasing remained an option but would carry tax and maintenance obligations and that the administration favored an outright sale. Trustees also asked that the district compile an inventory of other district-owned properties and clarify where services now housed at the Welcome Center would be provided; leaders said functions would be moved to Lincoln Center and other existing spaces and that a capital improvements committee would review any renovation priorities.
The board heard that the sale package includes the building and the parking lot across the street and that, if approved, the administration would publish notice and accept sealed bids with an anticipated board review of offers around Oct. 28 and a possible closing in December if a bid is accepted. The motion passed with Fabian, Lensing, McBride, Ramirez, Riddle and President Rodriguez voting yes and Hannah voting no.
The board did not designate a specific use for net proceeds during the meeting; at least one trustee asked that any funds support programs that directly affect student learning, such as literacy initiatives.