Local officials are setting the stage for next year’s school board elections while preparing to operate under a modified calendar for the 2025 campaign.
Prospective candidates for the Lake Forest High School District 115 board and at Lake Bluff School District 65 are starting to inform their respective caucuses if they will seek re-election in next year’s municipal elections.
Traditionally, Lake Bluff residents who want to be on any of the elected boards, seek the endorsement of Vote Lake Bluff, the village’s non-partisan voting organization. Lake Forest residents customarily look for support from the Lake Forest Caucus.
At LFHS, current board secretary and John Venson and board member Annie Geraghty Helms have expressed interest in getting the endorsement of the Lake Forest Caucus, according to Lake Forest Caucus President Joe Oriti.
Venson was elected to the LFHS board in 2021 with Helms being appointed to the seven-member board earlier this year. She previously served on the District 67 school board.
However, the composition of the board faces other questions, particularly involving the two seats from Lake Bluff. Traditionally, there are five Lake Forest residents on the LFHS board and two from Lake Bluff.
David Burns, a Lake Bluff resident who was elected to the school board in 2021, has not decided whether he will run for re-election he said in a message sent through a District representative.
In addition, Sally Davis, who has been a member of the LFHS board since 2015, indicated through the same spokeswoman, that she will not be seeking another term.
At District 65, the terms are expiring for five of the seven current members. Incumbents Amy Connell-Donohue, Lauren Hirsh and Tim Penich said in e-mails they plan to seek re-election next year.
However, Carrie Steinbach, who like the others was elected in 2021, said she hasn’t decided whether she will run again.
Finally, Richard Driver, who was appointed earlier this year to fill a vacancy on the board, said he has not decided whether he will run in the special election for the last two years of the term.
Pioneer Press previously reported some new residents will be joining the Lake Forest District 67 elementary school board as current board members Carl Kirar and Emily Bernahl will not run for re-election in 2025.
The elections for all candidates will take place under a different calendar due to a change in state law with candidates allowed to begin circulating nominating petitions on August 20th with the candidate filing period now between November 12th through November 18th.
With that change, the Lake Forest Caucus will have its annual meeting at least two weeks earlier than normal, according to Oriti. That will allow candidates to complete their paperwork and gather the necessary signatures.
Vote Lake Bluff Chairman Paul Blahunka said their annual meeting will be sometime in mid-November, approximately one month earlier than usual to adhere to the changed deadlines.
Voters will also be selecting candidates next year for Lake Forest mayor, Lake Bluff village president and several other offices.