Waukegan board shortens two mandatory expulsions to brief suspensions, orders safety plans

The Waukegan CUSD 60 Board of Education voted to modify two mandatory expulsions arising from building-level investigations into student possession of weapons.

In each case the board reviewed the principal’s recommendation and the superintendent’s modification and voted to reduce the mandatory one-year expulsion requirement under the School Code to shorter suspensions and an individualized safety plan.

For student 068 the board concurred with the superintendent’s modification to a one-day in-school suspension (the days already served were acknowledged) and adoption of an individualized safety plan. Mr. Riddle moved the resolution, and the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes.

For student XXX201 the board approved a modification to one and a half days of out-of-school suspension (already served) and an individualized safety plan; the motion was moved by Miss Lensing, seconded and approved unanimously. The board’s action referenced the School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-22.6D2) and noted that the superintendent’s modification may be further changed only by board action.

The resolutions instruct the superintendent or the superintendent’s designate to notify each student’s parent or guardian in writing of the board’s determination within five school-business days.

The motions were handled in open session after the matters were considered in closed session; the board’s votes and the directive to notify parents are recorded in the minutes.