With the April 1 municipal election approaching, most of the Lake Bluff School District 65 board candidates answered some questions at a recent forum regarding the district’s future.
The March 9 session was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff. Five candidates are vying for the four, four-year terms that expire this year on the seven-member board. Incumbents Lauren Hirsh, Tim Penich, and Carrie Steinbach appeared on the panel with Andrew Carlson, who is seeking to join the school board. The fifth candidate, Kimberly Bourne Saccaro, was absent as she was called away unexpectedly, according to League President Carol Russ.
The session took a little over an hour with the candidates taking questions from the audience on subjects pertaining to the two-school district.
With the Lake Bluff Elementary School receiving an exemplary designation in last year’s Illinois Report Card and Lake Bluff Middle School getting a commendable grade, candidates took on the subject of ensuring the highest quality learning environment inside District 65.
“We have high expectations for quality education in this community,” Penich said. “While we do have high-performing schools, I feel there is still growth to be done.”
He added it was important to support the work of the administration and the teachers, but the school board needs to monitor the progress.
Steinbach stated the board has a financial responsibility the schools are in the “top tier.”
“I believe we need equity, but we also need proficiency,” she said. “It’s our job to make changes if we see our children are failing or falling between the cracks.”
Regarding taxes, all four candidates did not believe a property tax hike was necessary at this time.
(District 65 represents roughly 40 % of the overall Lake Bluff property tax bill, according to Director of Finance and Operations Jay Kahn.)
While federal funds only represent about 1.5 % of the overall school district revenues, the candidates cautioned the district may have to look to grants or other sources of income if the federal money is removed given the uncertain future of the U.S. Department of Education.
The candidates were also asked about the keys to teacher recruitment and retention.
Carlson said a key to teacher retention is fostering an environment of respect.
“Letting teachers know they do have a certain degree of autonomy in their classrooms,” he said. “Allowing teachers to use that creativity that they have learned throughout their years of education themselves to really promote individuality.”
Hirsh said the teacher’s voice is very important.
“We want teachers who want to be in our classrooms,” she said. “If you have a teacher who loves what they are doing it is obvious and the kids recognize it.”
The candidates all spoke about the possible use of artificial intelligence (AI) at the schools.
“AI is amazing but there is a lot to learn about it,” Hirsh said. “I am sure teachers will use it but we need to make sure it is something that we are fully aware of the range of it before we put it in front of the kids.”
Penich said the administration would have to take the first look and the board would rely on their recommendations.
“I think it would be important to learn and listen to the administration to see if they feel a policy regarding AI usage would be useful either now or in the future that could guide what is in our classrooms and what teachers are able to do,” he said.
Steinbach said she uses AI at home with her children. She added some teachers have found it to be useful in their daily planning.
Yet she offered some caution.
“I, 100 % think that needs to be monitored,” Steinbach noted. “It can be viewed as extremely helpful but it can be viewed as a very divisive thing in the classroom.”
Carlson offered a similar sentiment. “Like any technology, AI should be used to supplement our education, not replace it,” he said. “It is not going to replace those in-person student/teacher relationships that I think is the foundation for the educational experience.”
Incumbent Richard Driver, who was appointed to the school board last year to fill a vacancy on the board, is running unopposed to fill out the remaining two years of that term. He did not appear on the panel.
Hirsh, Penich, Steinbach, and Driver are running with the endorsement of Vote Lake Bluff, the village’s version of a caucus.
Bourne Saccaro and Carlson started their candidacy after the Vote Lake Bluff Town Meeting late last year and thus would not be eligible for the organization’s endorsement, according to the president Paul Blahunka.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
