Lake County Gazette

Laine Bennett will be on the ballot for the Lake Bluff School District 65 school board.

However, Bennett said she will not accept the position if elected. 

"I called the Lake County Clerk's office in January to withdraw my name on the ballot and I missed the deadline," Bennett told Lake County Gazette. "I have been in contact with Andy Duran and the other D65 board members to let them know my name will still appear on the ballot but I will NOT accept the position if I am elected."

"Currently, I am on the D65's Strategic Planning committee, D65 8th grade graduation committee as well as D115 Booster store committee and D115 Be True To Your School fundraiser committee."

Prior to dropping out of the race Bennett said, “Getting our students back on track academically after the pandemic,” would be her immediate priority if elected. 

“The recently released Illinois school report card revealed D65’s reading and math test scores have dropped dramatically. D65 was one of the very few districts to be open for in-person learning in the fall of 2020 and that was a major task for the administration and faculty to take on." 

Bennett said that "in-person learning was beneficial to the students academically and emotionally."

Bennett looks forward to "working with the administration, faculty and community in achieving academic excellence.” She added that "the reason families move to Lake Bluff is for the two schools," and she's determined to make the students "succeed and achieve in D65.”

“Declining academic achievement is an issue that needs to be addressed. D65 needs a plan to improve our state and national test scores," she said. We need to return to ascending academic trajectories and compare D65 to other schools on the Northshore." 

Bennett is one of four candidates who will be on the ballot. Her opponents include incumbents Anne Hill and Andy Duran as well as Lake Bluff resident Laura Breakstone. 

"I had firsthand experience with high-risk students. I am grateful for having been given the opportunity to instruct a diverse group of students as it opened my eyes to the disparity among schools within Illinois," Bennett said in a Q&A.

Despite declining academic achievement, the median wage for Lake Bluff School District 65 teachers exceeds 91.81% of Illinois' school districts' median wages at an average of around $85,000 per year, according to Illinois Report Card. 

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Leali makes $234,417 per year. The amount spent on payroll by Lake Bluff School District 65 in 2020 was more than that of 69.71% of school districts.

According to a Wirepoints report, in 2019 for every Lake Bluff School District 65 student $19,483 was collected in property taxes.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Bennett's decision to drop out of the race.