Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 is postponing upcoming school photography sessions with Lifetouch, the company responsible for student portraits, following recent discussions and media reports about the vendor. In a message to families, Superintendent Theresa Plascencia stated that the district is aware of community concerns and is reviewing the situation.
“We understand that some families may have questions, and we want to assure you that we are taking this matter seriously. At this time, we are reviewing the situation and gathering information to ensure that any decisions we make reflect the best interests of our students and families,” Plascencia wrote.
A public statement from Lifetouch addressing these concerns has been made available by the company. While district officials conduct their review, all scheduled Lifetouch photo events will be delayed. This includes some school photo appointments; however, most students have already participated in picture day during the fall semester.
Plascencia assured families that updates will be provided as more information becomes available and as next steps are determined. “We appreciate your patience and understanding as we review this situation,” she said.
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serves a diverse student population across Lake County, including schools such as Waukegan High School, Daniel Webster Middle School, and Lyon Magnet Elementary School. The district enrolled 15,332 students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade during the 2019-2020 academic year. More details about the schools can be found at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
The student body is primarily Hispanic (79.5 percent), with Black students making up 13.2 percent, White students 3.2 percent, and Asian students 1.3 percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district employed over a thousand teachers in recent years—71 percent women—with an average salary of $63,524 before pension contributions (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
In terms of spending, Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 allocated $23,429 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of over $359 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). Chronic truancy remains an issue: during the same period, about one-fifth of enrolled students were classified as chronically truant according to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Further updates regarding Lifetouch services will be shared by district officials when available.
