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Waukegan board renews $2.14 million contract with Youth Guidance amid staff capacity concerns
Summary
The Waukegan Public Schools Board of Education approved a one-year, $2,141,132 renewal with Youth Guidance for school-based mental-health services. Board members and Youth Guidance representatives said sites are staffed but serving above capacity and maintaining wait lists, prompting calls for future budget and staffing discussions.
The Waukegan Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 14 approved a one-year renewal of a district contract with Youth Guidance for $2,141,132 to continue school-based mental-health counseling and related services.
The vote followed questions from board members about site capacity and caseloads. Board member Miss Gonzales asked whether all program slots were filled after hearing reports of students on wait lists. A Youth Guidance representative told the board some sites are staffed but that counselors are over capacity; counselors’ caseloads “have 70 and plus,” and a provider representative said there was a local vacancy being actively recruited.
Board members framed the approval as a short-term renewal while the incoming board and administration reassess long-term commitments. President Ewing and other members emphasized the district’s priority on student mental health while acknowledging that sustaining and expanding services will carry an additional budgetary cost.
Youth Guidance staff present offered to provide site-level details to board members and said they maintain wait lists if openings occur. Board members said those lists and staffing plans should inform future budget choices so the district can decide whether to increase funding or hire additional counselors.
Board members approved the one-year renewal by roll call; all seven members present voted yes. The superintendent noted the renewal reflects the board’s direction for a one-year contract given the board transition.
Board members and staff said the contract will remain under review and that staffing, caseloads and potential additional funding will be discussed in a future meeting or work session.
