Board actions: MOU with GrowCommunity, retroactive change order, working-cash abatement, personnel and disciplinary items

The Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education on Feb. 11 voted on a slate of motions that included contract approvals, a retroactive construction change order, a large transfer from the working-cash fund and several personnel and discipline items.

Here are the principal actions taken by the board (motions, seconder and outcome are listed as recorded in the meeting):

- Lewis Middle School learning-partner revision (agenda item 12a): The board authorized a $3,600 contract revision with Capturing Kids' Arts for John R. Lewis Middle School. Motion by Miss Gonzales; second by Miss Anna; roll call approved.

- Memorandum of understanding with GrowCommunity (agenda item 12b): Board authorized the superintendent to execute the MOU providing space for appointment-based mental-health services at the wraparound center. Motion carried on roll call.

- Retroactive change order No. 2, Washington campus retaining wall and exterior concrete work (agenda item 12c): The board ratified an increase in the project budget from $475,393.43 to $487,494.46, an addition of $12,101.03, and acknowledged prior change orders totaling larger amounts tied to unforeseen deterioration discovered during work. Motion by Miss Gonzales; second Miss Hannah; approved.

- Authorization to issue a notice to remedy a tenured teacher (agenda item 13a): The administration recommended a remedial warning under the statute cited in the agenda. Following public comment from the union and board discussion about due-process concerns, the individual motion to issue the warning was withdrawn and the item was carried over for further review (tabled) to allow additional consultation with the union.

- Settlement agreement with employee no. 20049 (agenda item 13b): The board approved a settlement agreement in the form presented by general counsel with a fiscal impact reported at $22,500. Motion by Miss Gonzales; second by Mister McBride; roll call approved. District staff said confidentiality limited public disclosure of details beyond the amount.

- Personnel actions (agenda item 13c): The board approved appointments, retirements, extensions and resignations listed on the personnel schedules. Motion by Miss Gonzales; second by Miss Fabian; roll call approved.

- Resolution abating working-cash fund (agenda item 16a): The board approved a resolution transferring $29,790,000 from the working-cash fund to the operations and maintenance capital projects fund and an additional $800,000 to the bond and interest fund to pay bond interest. Motion by Miss Gonzales; second Miss Lindsey; roll call approved.

- First processing of February 2025 board payments (agenda item 16b): The board ratified accounts payable and other payments for the period 01/22/2025 through 02/04/2025: accounts payable $1,437,188.42; mail check requests $2,703,885.93; Old National Bank insurance payments $2,651,848.54. Motion approved on roll call.

- Policy 6046, prohibition against bullying (second reading, agenda item 19a): The board approved revisions to the student bullying policy on second reading. Board members asked administration to coordinate separate personnel policies addressing staff-and-parent conduct and to provide a parent communication plan describing bullying definitions and examples. Motion by Miss Gonzales; second Miss Fabian; approved.

- Expulsion proceeding, student ending 758 (agenda item 21): The board considered a mandatory-expulsion referral under the school code for possession of a weapon. The superintendent and principal recommended modifying the mandatory one-year expulsion; the board adopted a resolution concuring with the superintendent's modification to two days of out-of-school suspension (already served) and an individualized safety plan; the board directed written notification to the family within five business days. Motion by Miss Lindsay; second Miss Hannah; roll call approved.

Several votes included line-by-line roll-call confirmations in the meeting transcript; where recorded, board members voted in the affirmative and the motions passed.

Context and oversight questions

Board members asked for follow-up on a number of items: why a contractor change order yielded large additional costs, how the district ensures staff follow board approval processes for change orders, and whether due process was observed in a disciplinary case after the union raised procedural objections during public comment. District staff said they would return with detailed answers and that improved internal processes are being implemented to ensure required board approvals occur before work is completed.

Public comment and union concerns

Andy Freeleben, president of the Waukegan Teachers Council, addressed the board during public comment and urged the board to delay issuing a remedial warning until contractually required due process with the union was satisfied. After further discussion, board members agreed to carry the remedial-warning item to the next meeting to allow the union to submit objections in writing.

Next steps

Where the board directed staff to follow up, administrators said they would return with supplemental materials (contract documentation and a change-order history for the retaining-wall project, and confirmation of due-process steps for the disciplinary matter) at a subsequent meeting.