Educare Lake County, a new early learning program operated by Start Early, held its ground-breaking ceremony at the construction gate entrance on Bethel Blvd. between Zion Central Middle School and the Park District Golf Course, according to a May 16 announcement.
The event marked an important milestone for the community as it brought together Superintendent Dr. Julious Lawson, select Zion Elementary School District 6 (ZESD 6) school board members and staff, local leaders from Zion, contributors, and providers. The project is being developed through close collaboration with local leaders, providers, and families.
During the ceremony, several speakers addressed attendees. Diana Rauner, President of Start Early; John Schreiber of Schreiber Philanthropy; Dr. Julious Lawson, Superintendent of ZESD 6; Billy McKinney, Mayor of Zion; Juan Moreno, President & Founder of JGMA; and Celena Sarillo, Executive Director of Start Early Illinois offered brief remarks recognizing the shared commitment to expanding opportunities for young children in Lake County.
Zion Elementary School District 6 represents several schools in Lake County including Beulah Park Elementary School, East Elementary School, Elmwood Elementary School, Lakeview School, Shiloh Park Elementary School, West Elementary School and Zion Central Middle School,according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The district enrolled 2,483 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade during the 2019-2020 school year.According to the same source, ZESD 6 spent $27,927 per student in 2020 for a total expenditure of $69.3 million that year.
The district’s demographic makeup is reported as 4.9 percent White, 36.6 percent Black, 50.9 percent Hispanic and 0.2 percent Asian.According to state data, there were also no teachers with more than ten absences during a school year among its staff of approximately 164 teachers earning an average salary of $58,629 before pension contributions.
This milestone was described as “years of collaboration and shared commitment to strengthening opportunities for young children across in Lake County.” Organizers said it was “a time of celebration for this meaningful step forward and the partnerships that made it possible.”
