Waukegan school officials announced they will be cutting up to $10 million from the district’s proposed budget in order to curb long-term overspending.
In a letter sent to families, Waukegan Unit School District Superintendent Theresa Plascencia said district officials have worked to keep families informed about the financial outlook and the steps the district is taking to plan responsibly for the future.
During a Waukegan Board of Education budget workshop, Plascencia said the goal of the board was to reduce next year’s proposed budget by more than $10 million.
The potential reductions would come from district operations, staffing, contracts, and other expenses, Plascencia said.
Plascencia said that, like other districts, the school district has experienced declining student enrollment over the past decade.
As enrollment changes, Plascencia said, the level of district staffing and resources changes as well.
Simultaneously, federal funding supporting schools during and after the pandemic ended. She added that uncertainty also remains around some state and federal funding.
She said the Board of Education has also held off on increasing the property tax levy for six years to help ease the burden on taxpayers.
“During that same period, the District negotiated competitive agreements with our employee groups, recognizing the importance of attracting and retaining strong teachers and staff,” she said. “These were important decisions, but they also affect the budget planning we are doing now.”
She said Waukegan Public Schools is not in a financial crisis, and the district is “not without financial resources.”
She added that careful financial management by the district has left it in a stronger position than many school districts across the state.
“However, spending more each year than we bring in cannot continue long-term,” she said. “Taking action now can help us avoid harder choices later.”
She said strategies discussed during the budget workshop with the board of education are to ensure staffing and resources match current enrollment, student needs, and available funding.
She said that means reviewing vacancies before filling them, considering whether current staff can be reassigned where needed, and deciding whether some vacant positions should remain open.
She said as the budget review continues, the board will look at other ways to match resources to student needs while also supporting the District’s long-term financial stability.
“Throughout this process, we are focused on protecting classroom instruction, student safety, mandated services, and the programs that directly support student success,” she said. “We will also continue working to preserve the opportunities families value, including fine arts, athletics, tutoring, and other direct student supports whenever possible.”
She added, “These are not easy conversations, but they are important. We believe it is our responsibility to make careful decisions now so Waukegan Public Schools remains financially strong in the years ahead.