Lake County Gazette

The D95 Educational Foundation has announced the launch of “Birthday Boxes,” a new program involving students from all schools in Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95. The initiative encourages K–12 students to donate items that will be assembled into boxes containing celebration essentials for community members in need. The goal is to help ensure that individuals feel recognized and valued on their birthdays.

“Each box helps ensure someone feels seen, valued, and celebrated on their special day,” the foundation stated.

Those unable to donate items are invited to contribute financially through an online link provided by the foundation. “Together, we can spread joy and make birthdays brighter for everyone!” the announcement said.

Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 serves multiple schools across Lake County, including Isaac Fox Elementary School, Lake Zurich High School, both North and South campuses of Lake Zurich Middle School, May Whitney Elementary School, Sarah Adams Elementary School, Seth Paine Elementary School, and Spencer Loomis Elementary School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data, the district’s student population is 78.5 percent White, 1.3 percent Black, 7.5 percent Hispanic, and 9.5 percent Asian (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

The Illinois State Board of Education reports that the district employs 403 teachers with an average salary of $76,420 before pension contributions; women comprise 77.5 percent of this workforce while men make up 22.5 percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). There are no teachers in the district with more than ten absences in a school year.

In terms of spending, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 allocated $24,707 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $136,949,848 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).