Proposed legislation placing Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 under state supervision — introduced by state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, in February — will not proceed through the legislative process.
“I’m not moving the bill,” Mayfield said during an interview Tuesday.
Mayfield made her decision after a March 15 telephone conversation with district officials, including Superintendent Theresa Plascencia and Gwendolyn Polk, the associate superintendent of business, because Mayfield was convinced the district is in sound financial condition.
“The finances are in really good condition,” Mayfield said. “Gwen Polk did an excellent job of showing the financial condition. The district does not have a financial problem.”
If enacted, Mayfield’s bill would require the Illinois State Board of Education to establish an oversight panel for at least 10 years to monitor the district’s finances and help it establish financial stability.
After meeting with a group of 20 constituents in her office expressing concern about the district’s financial condition, Mayfield said she introduced the legislation to help those residents get information they said they were unable to obtain from district officials.
Shortly after Mayfield introduced the bill, the district scheduled two public meetings Feb. 18 and 22 to let the community know about the District 60’s finances, including cash reserves of approximately $75 million backing a $278 million budget. Polk led the presentations.
“Eighteen of the 20 people who I originally met with said they were satisfied with the public finance meetings, and I was happy with them,” Mayfield said.
When she learned of Mayfield’s decision, Plascencia said she was glad the district no longer had to worry about a possible state oversight panel as she guides the district into face-to-face learning after spring break, after more than a year of remote school because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m ecstatic she was willing to listen to what we had to say, and she knows we are in a good financial status,” Plascencia said.
A major point of contention raised by the people who met with Mayfield was the district’s purchase of a downtown Waukegan office building in 2019 to house administrative offices. The plan would repurpose the current central office, known as Lincoln Center, for educational use.
The Board of Education approved the purchase of the office building by a 4-3 vote. Mayfield said during the March 15 phone conversation she had the opportunity to speak with board President Brandon Ewing urging him to seek training for the seven board members.
“When the door is closed they can disagree, but once they vote they should speak with one voice,” Mayfield sad. “You have to stand unified behind your vote. The superintendent can make a recommendation, but the board has to approve it.”
Ewing said the board regularly goes through training sessions, and that will be the case after the April 6 election when voters decide who will fill four of the seats.
“We’ve all had training, and it will be ongoing,” Ewing said. “We’ve been in touch with our IASB (Illinois Association of School Boards) rep, and we will continue with training.”
Mayfield hinted the board’s lack of unity may have led to some of the unrest which brought 20 people to her office seeking assistance. She said board members cannot blame Plascencia for carrying out their decisions.
“They threw the superintendent under the bus and rolled the bus over forward, backward and sideways,” Mayfield said. “You can’t scapegoat her.”
Ewing was surprised when he heard about Mayfield’s comments regarding the board and superintendent.
“I don’t know what she means by that,” he said. “We stand behind and support the superintendent.”
Plascencia said a strong relationship between the board and superintendent is important for any school district, and she feels that is the case in Waukegan.
“Any successful district knows it is because the superintendent and the board support our students, and put children first,” she said. “If we continue to do that, it will ensure the district is successful.”
Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter.
