June 17th, 2026 - Special Meeting with Closed Session - 5:45 P.M.

The Waukegan Public Schools held a special meeting on June 17, 2026, which included a detailed discussion on the procurement process for a new food service vendor. The board reviewed the recent Request for Proposal (RFP) process for child nutrition services, which involved evaluating eight proposals and selecting two finalists after taste testing and best and final offer rounds. Concerns were raised by board members regarding the evaluation process, including the lack of parent, student, and community representation on the evaluation panel, the clarity of the scoring rubric, and assurances about food quality, cultural appropriateness, and special dietary accommodations. The board was informed that the RFP included specifications for staffing, fresh and locally sourced food, and monthly taste testing with students. Reference checks on the recommended vendor were positive, and the contract would include provisions for annual renewals and compliance auditing. The meeting concluded with a motion to move into closed session to discuss matters related to self-evaluation and professional ethics.