Gwendolyn Polk: Hello, My name is Gwendolyn Polk, Associate Superintendent of Business and Financial Services. The Business and Financial Services Department is comprised of payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, student activity, financial accountability, and site based budgeting. We are honored to be responsible for managing the district’s finances with revenues at approximately $230 million dollars annually. Over the last several years, the district has received the ASBO International Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Award coupled with the Meritorious Budget Award. We’ve also received for a couple of years, the(GFOA) General Office of Financial Association Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Award.
Our office has successfully implemented a strategic budget development process inclusive of the piloted site based budgeting program, which focuses on allocating resources based on prioritized needs. This has been highly successful, and we look forward to continued success, as we strive to serve the students of Waukegan Public Schools. We’ve also been able to assist with providing resources for Capital Improvement projects that value in excess of 13 million dollars over the past two years; with additional 30 million dollars with additional projects scheduled for the next 3 years.
It is our goal to provide efficient, effective, and responsive service to all within the Waukegan community. We strive to be transparent and to clearly articulate the financial health of our district. At present, our district stands at an A rating with Standards and Poors, and Recognition School District Financial Profile Status with ISBE. Again it is our pleasure to work and serve each of you; and look forward to continued collaboration as we serve our students and community. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me via phone at 224-303-1088. Thank you.
The Business and Financial Services Division oversees Accounts Payable, Budgets and Grants Services, Financial Research and Planning, Payroll and Purchasing Departments for Waukegan Community Unit School District #60.
Gwendolyn Polk
Associate Superintendent of Business and Financial Services
[email protected]
(224) 303-1088
Mrs. Gwendolyn Polk is a retired Army veteran of over 20 years with over 14 years of those years in military accounting. She also has fifteen (15) years of experience in the field of education. Five (5) of those years are in the position of JROTC Instructor/Dean of Students in Chicago Public Schools (Phoenix Military Academy), and six (6) years as Director of Grants and Budgets and four (4) years as Associate Superintendent of Business and Financial Services at Waukegan Community Unit School District 60. She holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University and a Masters of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University (Chief School Business Official). In addition she took post graduate classes at DePaul University. She holds certifications as a Chief School Business Official and General Administration as well as is a certified Life-Coach.
Her experiences include, but are not limited to, supporting the academic success of students through skilled strategic budget planning strategies with district administration, employees, and constituents, creating and implementing district-wide initiatives to ensure district solvency, fiscal transparency and effective and efficient fiscal management coupled with providing financial support for principals, and central-office administrators.
During her tenure as Associate Superintendent of Business and Financial Services, the District has successfully passed Department of Education and Illinois State Board of Education financial audits, awarded the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for four consecutive years (2017 submitted for disposition), maintained an "A" financial rating from Standards and Poors, refinanced district debt and worked collaboratively with the Operations Division to submit and be awarded a $7M Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) allocation from ISBE, $6M Working Cash Bond and $3.8M due to recent legislative changes [authorized transfer from debt sevice fund] for necessary infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, the district successfully transitioned from a traditional roll-over budget to a Zero-Based Budgeting Model thereby reducing redundant expenditures, eliminating outdated programs and services and targeting expenditures on district priorities.
Mrs. Polk plays a primary role in managing over $300M of both expenditures and receipts.
Brian Luosa
Director of Business and Financial Services
[email protected]
(224) 303-1162
Mark Kiiskila
Consultant
[email protected]
Adelaida Guzman
Executive Assistant
[email protected]
(224) 303-1088
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
Capital Fact Sheet 2017 - Information on Bond Issues
District Budget
District Credit Card Expenditure Form
FY17 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Non Union Salaries FY21 (Temporary Location)