Financial Information and Contracts

A new community-wide District 67 and District 115 school finance update called The Bottom Line was mailed to all residents of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood. In the report, we share information about district staffing and salaries. In the spirit of transparency, the information we share in The Bottom Line extends beyond what is available in state-mandated documents.

The District meets all required state reporting standards. However, the required state reports available online do not provide a complete picture of all the staff positions within our districts.

To provide our community with a more comprehensive view, a complete summary of budgeted staff positions, referred to as Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs), was included in The Bottom Line. These figures are based on the Board-approved 2023–2024 budgets for Districts 67 and 115 and reflect all budgeted FTE positions.

The two mandated reports available in the menu above under “Annual Compensation Reports” follow strict state guidelines and do not align with the budgeted FTE totals in The Bottom Line for the following reasons:

• Certified Staff
  The EIS Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report, required by the Illinois School Code, does not account for shared staff (with the exception of the superintendent) or many important certified roles, such as librarians, counselors, nurses, and social workers. As a result, this report does not reflect the full scope of certified staff or compensation in our districts. We note the limitations and inaccuracies in the state reporting methodology in the cover memo that accompanies this report to the Board of Education each fall.
   

• Non-Certified Staff
  The IMRF Compensation Report, required under Public Act 097-0609, only includes employees earning over $75,000 annually. Many non-certified staff fall below this threshold and are therefore not listed in the report.

For a summarized and accurate picture of staffing in our District 67 and District 115 schools, we encourage residents to refer to the May 2025 issue of The Bottom Line.

Our community has asked for a deeper understanding of school finance and the budget planning process. In response, Districts 67 and 115 are launching Beyond the Budget, a video series debuting with Chief Operating Officer Dr. Jennifer Hermes.

We remain committed to responsible fiscal stewardship and will continue to share timely updates on how your tax dollars support our schools.

School Finance Overview

After the Budget Is Approved