Lake County Gazette

Students in Westminster Public Schools began the new academic year last week, returning to classrooms with updated facilities and a renewed focus on key educational goals.

Superintendent Jeni Gotto, now in her second year leading the district, visited Shaw Heights Middle School to welcome students and staff. The school has undergone several upgrades over the summer, including the installation of air-conditioning. District officials stated that these improvements are part of their commitment to creating safe and engaging learning environments for students.

“This is an exciting day for our students and families,” Gotto said. “Walking into Shaw Heights today, you can feel the difference. These upgrades send a clear message that our kids deserve the very best.”

The district is emphasizing attendance and reading as priorities this year.

“Attendance and reading are the foundation of success,” Gotto explained. “When students are here consistently and reading at grade level, it sets them up for a lifetime of opportunities.”

Educators encourage parents to read with their children to help foster strong reading habits.

Westminster Public Schools is also participating in a national Attendance Awareness campaign under the theme “Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow.”

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 represents schools across Lake County such as Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School, Carman-Buckner Elementary School, Clearview Elementary School, Daniel Webster Middle School, Early Learning Center, Glen Flora Elementary School, Glenwood Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School, H.R. McCall Elementary School, Hyde Park Elementary School, Jack Benny Middle School, John S. Clark Elementary School, Little Fort Elementary School, Lyon Magnet Elementary School, Miguel Juarez Middle School, North Elementary School, Oakdale Elementary School, Robert E. Abbott Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Washington Elementary School, Waukegan High School and Whittier Elementary School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data from ISBE (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), Waukegan Community Unit School District 60’s student population is 3.2 percent White, 13.2 percent Black, 79.5 percent Hispanic and 1.3 percent Asian.

Illinois State Board of Education records show that Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 employs 1,014 teachers who earn an average salary of $63,524 before pension contributions; most teachers are women (71.1 percent), while men make up 28.9 percent of faculty (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district reported no teachers with more than ten absences in a school year.

In terms of spending per pupil in 2020 for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 was $23,429 per student with total expenditures reaching $359 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).