September 29th 2026 - BOARD OF EDUCATION - Regular Meeting - Open Session 7:00 p.m.

The Waukegan Public Schools Board of Education held its regular open-session meeting on September 29, 2026. The board approved the FY2026–27 budget, with two members voting against it. The presentation projected $286.7 million in revenue and $317 million in expenditures, a $30.3 million operating gap, and an estimated $58.2 million ending fund balance. Members debated a proposed multi-year budget-stabilization resolution, including reporting and accountability requirements, but withdrew the motion and deferred further action. The board also approved accounts-payable and manual-check reports; the transcript’s accounts-payable total is garbled. A consent agenda included multiple contract renewals, including Google Education Plus, Therm Flow HVAC and generator services, Savvas, BrainPOP, Follett Destiny, Panorama, Quaver, Palo Alto, Avigilon, Smartsheet, CDW/Cisco, and Incident IQ, along with an agreement with the College of Lake County. The discussion included a $100,000 figure for the Dream Big Youth Foundation after-school program, supported by an R3 grant; its representative said a $37,000 bus quote was being reduced by about half through a revised transportation plan. The consent items were presented for board approval, though the transcript does not preserve a clear final vote on that motion.

The board heard, but did not act on, upcoming employee health-plan recommendations intended to control rising costs; the broker cited a projected 25% Blue Cross Blue Shield increase and said recommendations would return for a later vote. No new procurement policy was adopted. Other contract-related action included approval of an amendment to the general counsel’s employment contract setting goals for the 2026–27 school year.