Waukegan Public Schools

Former Marine Corps Reserve Center to go to preschoolers

A McAree Road facility that once processed Marine Corps reservists for duty will prepare preschoolers for their academic futures under an agreement approved Monday that transfers ownership of the closed military property from the city to the Waukegan School District.

The one-time Marine Corps Reserve Center at 1721 N. McAree Road, determined to be surplus by the Department of Defense’s Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, will be renovated by the school district to house at least 600 preschool students.

“The city (acknowledges) that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Waukegan for the subject property to be transferred to District 60 to be used as a pre-kindergarten facility,” reads the agreement, which was also approved by the Waukegan Board of Education last week.

But Monday’s approval by the council didn’t come easily, as aldermen Sam Cunningham (1st Ward), Thomas Koncan Jr. (2nd) and Larry TenPas (6th) voiced concerns about traffic impacts and losing city control of the property.

“You’re going to flood that area with (traffic),” Cunningham said, adding that he had no problems with the preschool concept, but “you’re going to have Waukegan police officers out there on a daily basis if you’re going to have almost 1,000 kids out there.”

TenPas backed an earlier plan to use the property for the police department, saying “why wouldn’t we want to control the property? Who says we can’t use it for police vehicles until the economy turns around?”

Aldermen were told that a June 2010 estimate put the costs of a city renovation at $1.7 million, and that it would cost around $70,000 in utility costs annually to mothball the building.

“The truth of it is there’s no money available to make use of that building,” said Sabonjian, adding that the city has been advised that the property will be auctioned off if the city doesn’t sign off on a public use.

School district officials reported that they have secured around $700,000 to renovate some six office buildings on the 4.5-acre property, structures that range in size from 7,400 to 528 square feet. The project also will eliminate the need to spend $300,000 annually on two different rented spaces for pre-kindergarten programs.

Under the terms of the agreement — which was approved by a 7-2 vote with Koncan and TenPas voting no — the school district will assume ownership of the property but the city will have “exclusive and uninterrupted access” to two of the outlot buildings, with the city taking responsibility for such things as maintenance and utilities for those structures.

Kids 1st Health Fair Helps Keep Local Vaccination Rates High ...

Over the last several years, Lake County has seen a resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) cases, while other areas in the United States have seen increases in measles. These are childhood illnesses that are preventable through vaccination. One way in which vaccination rates of children are remaining high in Lake County is through the annual Kids 1st Health Fair. This year's Fair, which is sponsored by the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and United Way of Lake County, will take place Wednesday, August 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Miguel Juarez Middle School, 201 N. Butrick in Waukegan.

"Students need to be ready to hit the ground running when the first day of school arrives and the health services provided at the fair help make that happen," said Roycealee Wood, Lake County Regional Superintendent of Schools. "Without the completion of certain health requirements, a student could be excluded from attending school."

With the philanthropic leadership of The Abbott Fund, the Fair has served nearly 30,000 children altogether since its inception in 1993. Prior to that year, many children in Lake County were failing to receive required health services in time for school deadlines. The Health Department worked with local businesses and agencies to coordinate a group of physicians, health care providers and others willing to volunteer their time and provide the services at a one-day event. More than 700 nurses, lab technicians, health aids, clerical staff, doctors, dentists, community residents, corporate employees and bilingual volunteers come together annually to help children of limited-income families receive the medical services they need. Last year, state medical and dental compliance rates in Waukegan public schools alone were 99 percent.

"The Kids 1st Fair is the ideal time to get immunizations, dental screenings, physicals and other health services for kids all in one place and all in one visit," said Irene Pierce, the Health Department's Executive Director. "It keeps parents from having to schedule multiple appointments with different healthcare providers for their children."

The Fair is free for Lake County families who meet specific income guidelines. For example, a family of four with a gross income limit of $41,348 would qualify for Fair services. State required services provided at the Fair include dental screenings for children in preschool, kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grades, physicals for children in Head Start, kindergarten, 6th and 9th grades, and immunizations for children entering preschool, kindergarten, 6th and 9th grades. If a medical condition is found, referrals are made and the Health Department or another provider follows up.

An integrated approach to black history

Resource guide, grade 1

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How We See the World

The magnet literature curriculum