Lake County Gazette

Even after officially dropping out of the Lake Bluff School District 65 school board race last month, Laine Bennett still scored enough support to finish fourth in the April 4, election. 

" I dropped out of the race, didn't wage a campaign, and still finished fourth," Bennett told the Lake County Gazette. "I guess that must mean people know who I am and what I stand for."

Bennett said she called the Lake County Clerk's office back in January to officially withdraw and was told she missed the deadline, and thus would see her name remain on the ballot for the April 4 election.

Prior to officially pulling the plug on her campaign, Bennett listed “getting our students back on track academically after the pandemic,” as being at the top of her long and growing list of priorities, adding “the recently released Illinois school report card revealed D65’s reading and math test scores have dropped dramatically."

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.

When asked in a candidate survey why she wanted to serve on the board, Bennett responded, "As a member in the Lake Bluff community since 2011 with three children in our district, I have an active present interest in our two schools. I would like to continue my role in the school board with a willingness to listen thoughtfully to others while respecting the entire community’s opinions and concerns."

She was formerly a Chicago Public high school teacher.

"I had firsthand experience with high-risk students," she wrote. "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. Since moving to Lake Bluff in 2011, I have volunteered in numerous activities and events."