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District flags rising special‑education costs and federal funding uncertainty, urges cautious staffing changes
Summary
Diverse learner spending has risen sharply over the past decade; district leaders said IDEA and federal claim payments are subject to uncertainty and that staffing decisions will account for potential federal funding shifts.
Waukegan CUSD 60 budget presenters highlighted growing special‑education (diverse learner) costs and said the district must weigh program needs against uncertain federal and state reimbursements.
Presenters showed the district’s diverse learner spending rose from roughly $29 million in 2016 to about $46 million in 2024; the FY25 budget projection remained high and staff told trustees they are budgeting conservatively to avoid sudden program cuts. “We have these students,” Associate Superintendent Gwen Polk said when explaining why the district is maintaining staffing levels for special education despite revenue uncertainty.
Administrators specifically named two revenue sources that would materially affect special‑education finances if payments change: IDEA federal grant allocations (district staff estimated roughly $6 million in IDEA grants plus related claims) and Medicaid claims for reimbursable services (staff identified roughly $2 million in claims awaiting payment because of state‑level freezes and executive actions). Polk and other presenters said those figures are included as assumptions in the FY26 budget but noted that if those funding streams are cut or redirected, the board will face difficult choices.
Trustees and staff discussed whether to make staffing reductions now or postpone decisions until funding certainty arrives. Polk said the administration prefers to avoid impulsive cuts that would reduce direct student supports; instead the district is preparing prioritized options the board can consider if revenue does not materialize.
Administrators also asked the board to consider the timing and public communication of any future decisions affecting special‑education services, emphasizing the legal and educational obligations to serve students with disabilities under federal and state rules.
