Waukegan Community School District 60 officials are trying to determine the impact of some of the executive orders issued by President Donald Trump since he took office earlier this year.
One of the orders prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and any grants funding them, while another dealt with gender identity and a third involved school choice.
Superintendent Theresa Plascencia sent a message to the school community Monday in an effort to help calm any angst that has been created.
While letting the community know the district must obey the law, she said in the email the commitment to giving students the necessary support to succeed continues. This includes resources, programs and individualized support, “consistent with the best educational practices.”
“This means that regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability or any other category protected by law, we remain dedicated to serving all students with fairness and care,” she wrote.
A discussion of the impact of Trump’s executive orders by the District 60 Board of Education at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday at the Lincoln Center administration building in Waukegan was postponed because of court decisions hours earlier.
Board of Education President Brandon Ewing said when it was time for the report on Trump’s executive orders and a discussion by board members, the situation may have changed making the report dated.
“We just received news in the span of 90 minutes three of those executive actions have been overturned by the courts,” Ewing said. “We don’t want to present inaccurate information. I don’t want to pontificate without knowing.”
Plascencia said a report will be given at the next meeting on March 11. Ewing said a special meeting can be scheduled earlier if necessary. General Counsel Kathryn Vander Broek said more information was needed before a discussion.
“I prefer to hold everything until I see exactly what happened,” Vander Broek said at the meeting. “The situation remains fluid, with court decisions impacting the implementation of executive orders,” she added in an email Wednesday.
In one of the first executive orders issued, all discriminatory programs, which include DEI, are to be eliminated and recipients of federal funds — the district receives federal funding for some programs — must certify compliance, according to the PowerPoint presentation prepared for the meeting.
Limited compliance guidance is available from federal or state agencies, according to the PowerPoint. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recognizes protection against discrimination for a number of groups, including those related to race, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy, arrest record, citizenships or military status.
Though grant funding may be at risk under the order, terminating grants to organizations in the private sector is now permanently enjoined by a recent court order, according to the PowerPoint. Investigations can still take place.
Under another order, federal policy, practices and guidelines will recognize only two sexes — male and female — according to the PowerPoint. Federal funds are also at risk for organizations that allow male participation in female sports, social transition or gender ideology
The Illinois High School Association, which governs prep sports in Illinois, allows “participation with students by their gender identification,” according to its official policy. There are procedures an athlete must follow.
Plascencia said in an email Wednesday that while adapting to new legal requirements, a supportive learning environment for students will remain. The district will also continue to follow ISBE guidance on requirements to, “ensure compliance at the state level.”
“While executive orders and federal policies continue to evolve, we work to interpret and implement these changes in a way that aligns with both our educational mission and legal obligations,” Plascencia wrote.
The board did unanimously reclassify three administrative positions Tuesday. The associate superintendent for equity, innovation and accountability, is now the associate superintendent for strategy and accountability. The director of equity and inclusion is now the director of student access and achievement. The manager of equity and inclusion is now the manager of student access and achievement.
“We want to make it clear that these roles support the needs of all students,” Nick Alatzakis. the district’s communications director, said in an email.
