Board approves $50,000 contract for Fulcrum principal development after trustees debate overlap with area superintendents

The Waukegan Board of Education approved a renewal with Fulcrum Educational Services to provide principal professional development at an estimated cost described in the meeting as about $50,000. The motion was seconded and passed after trustee discussion about role overlap and principal input during planning. Trustee Hannah said she could not support the contract because the district had hired two area superintendents whose duties include principal development; she said paying an outside provider looked like paying twice for the same work. Trustee Lensing and others said Fulcrum offers certificated credit hours and broader cohort training that can be useful at scale; area superintendent Laurie Zamy told trustees principals had expressed a need to continue growing as instructional leaders and that the vendor would help provide differentiated supports. Administrators and trustees agreed the contract would be combined with in‑district supports and that area superintendents would lead tailored one‑on‑one development; trustees asked the administration to confirm principal engagement and continue coordinating with district leaders. The board approved the contract with a majority roll-call vote.