Lake County Gazette

The Westminster Public Schools Board of Education has unanimously voted to continue its support for the district’s Competency Based System (CBS), calling it the “most effective educational model” for students. The decision was made during the board’s meeting on September 5.

“We think it is important symbolically to state to our community and our staff that this is who we are, what defines us,” said Brian Kosena, Chief Learning Officer for the district.

Since CBS was introduced in 2009, the board has annually passed a resolution backing the system. Unlike traditional education models that advance students based on time spent in class, CBS focuses on student comprehension and mastery of topics. This approach allows some students to progress more quickly while others can take additional time as needed.

The recent resolution commits Westminster Public Schools to “ending social promotion by ensuring honest and accurate conversations with students and parents about current academic performance …”

Westminster operates what it describes as the largest comprehensive Competency Based System in the country. The district also hosts a biennial summit for educators interested in CBS; this year’s event will be held from October 6-8.

Additionally, the resolution reaffirmed support for career and technical education (CTE) and STEM pathways within the district.

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serves Lake County schools including 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 data from ISBE cited by https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, Waukegan Community Unit School District 60's student population is composed of approximately 3.2 percent White students; 13.2 percent Black; 79.5 percent Hispanic; and 1.3 percent Asian.

The Illinois State Board of Education reports that Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 employs over one thousand teachers with an average salary of $63,524 before pension contributions; most are women (71.1 percent), with men making up 28.9 percent of faculty members (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). There are no teachers in this district with more than ten absences per school year.

In terms of finances reported at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/, Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 spent $23,429 per student in fiscal year 2020—a total expenditure of $359 million.