District adjusts budget and funding source for Robbie Lightfoot playground ADA replacement

Waukegan CUSD 60 staff told the Operational Services Committee on April 15 they will adjust the Robbie Lightfoot playground project budget and funding source after an earlier allocation from a pre-K grant could not be used.

Administrators said the project — a replacement to make the playground ADA-accessible — was previously billed partly to an $80,000 pre-K grant contribution. Because the work was not completed in the prior fiscal year, the administration said it could not apply the prior grant funds and instead would charge the full project to Fund 60 capital projects. Staff presented an updated project total of about $171,000 inclusive of invoices from two vendors; an earlier figure discussed in the meeting referenced a larger number that staff said they were correcting downward.

"The initial amount is being adjusted," a staff presenter said, adding the final invoice of roughly $171,000 is inclusive of both vendors. Questioning from board members focused on why the $80,000 pre‑K contribution was removed and whether waiting for next year’s grant cycle would have been an option. Administrators said the project timing prevented use of last year’s grant funds and the pre-K dollars were reallocated to other district transportation needs, not returned to the state.

Staff said the project funds were amended to ensure correct budget coding and to amend the earlier approval. The item was informational at the committee meeting and will be processed administratively through the capital projects fund; no further board action was taken at the committee meeting.

Trustees asked staff to clarify grant timing and to provide the rationale to the public before final administrative approval.