The Waukegan Community Unit School District Board of Education announced on Mar. 30 that it is looking for two students to serve as Student Board Members for the 2026-2027 school year. Eligible students who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors next year can apply until May 3.
The initiative aims to give students a direct voice in school governance by allowing them to act as liaisons between their peers and the Board of Education. The selected Student Board Members will attend meetings from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and share student perspectives on issues such as school climate and curriculum.
To qualify, applicants must be freshmen, sophomores, or juniors during the current academic year at Waukegan High School and have a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Required materials include a personal statement outlining abilities and goals, written responses to specific questions about their interest in the role and key issues facing students today, one reference letter from a teacher or community member, and contact information. Applications are due by May 3 at 11:59 p.m., submitted to Nicholas Alatzakis via email.
The selection process involves a vote by the student body at each campus—Brookside and Washington—with top candidates advancing to interviews with the Board of Education. Final selections will be announced in June.
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serves Lake County and includes schools such as Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School and Waukegan High School according to state records. The district enrolled over fifteen thousand students during the last reported school year according to state data, with demographics showing it is nearly eighty percent Hispanic as reported by ISBE.
District statistics show an average teacher salary of $63,524 among more than one thousand teachers; most are women according to Illinois State Board of Education data. Spending per student was $23,429 in recent years state figures show, while chronic truancy affected twenty-one percent of enrolled students—more than double the statewide average as noted by ISBE.
This effort reflects ongoing attempts within Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 to engage more voices in educational decision-making.
