🏫 They passed a District 115 budget on Tuesday — and never once showed you how many kids go to the school. We watched the whole hearing. Revenue in: about $68.7M. Spending out: about $69.8M — a planned dip into reserves. And the one number that never made the slide? Enrollment. Over the last decade the high school is down roughly 20% (about 1,348 students now), the main grade-school feeder is down about 12%, and the other feeder is flat. Fewer kids coming in, a bigger bill going out — and no headcount on the budget. This week Pete, Rick, and Jeff dig into the budget nobody explained: the $1.8M "float," the $70,000 "brand experience" contract a board member refused to vote on, why two school districts and a dozen taxing bodies still run "one freaking town," and whether a taxpayer-funded building running under capacity should stay that way. Plus hockey as a club sport, a Facebook post about possible mold, the holiday pop-up shop that needs a home, and the September playoff run. Not everyone at the table agrees — and that's the point. Smaller classes, fixed assets, and where your property tax actually goes. We document. You decide. 🎙️ Pete Jansons — with Rick Lesser & Jeff Urso 🎵 This week's anthem, "One Freaking Town," is out now: [INSERT SPOTIFY LINK] ⏱️ WHAT WE GET INTO🔥 0:00 — Cold open: "When I heard brand, I heard: take a $20 bill and light it up"✍️ 0:44 — The ballot-signature math and the clerk's magic number🏒 2:58 — Hockey is a club sport, not IHSA — and why that matters🛡️ 5:10 — 501(c)(3), USA Hockey, AHAI: how the club is insured🤝 8:36 — Highland Park & Deerfield talk merging their hockey clubs🏛️ 9:39 — The budget hearing that never showed a headcount💸 10:30 — The $1.8M "float" and a planned overspend📉 11:43 — Fewer kids: the 10-year enrollment picture🧩 12:24 — Shared services and the two-district question📊 14:27 — Enrollment's falling — so why aren't admin costs?🦟 14:54 — Two districts, a mosquito abatement district, 14 houses, two fire departments🍽️ 16:58 — Schools, home values & "the four-star restaurant"🧫 18:11 — The Facebook post about possible mold (Rick's read)🎨 21:00 — $70K to "brand" the school — and the board member who said no🐢 24:57 — The Dialogue, Randy Tack & a Mitch McConnell detour🎁 26:46 — The holiday pop-up shop needs a home🧮 33:36 — The read: down ~12% and ~20% over ten years, $68.7M in / $69.8M out👥 35:13 — Smaller classes vs. fewer kids: the pushback🔗 35:48 — Merge the districts? Lake Bluff, IGAs & the old water feud🏘️ 41:00 — "It's all one freaking town"🍸 41:18 — The Lake Bluff restaurant tax you didn't know you paid🪧 41:30 — The referendum, the glowing sign & the students' joke💰 46:59 — "You're in my pocket twice. Once is enough."🎓 49:02 — Non-resident tuition already exists — should the empty seats be filled?🚚 54:22 — Fixed asset, fluctuating demand: the core disagreement⚾ 56:58 — Cubs, Sox, Bears, Hawks & the September playoff run 📺 Watch the full District 115 board meeting yourself: https://www.youtube.com/live/28_T1-31pZo📊 On enrollment, we defer to Parents Care for the final numbers: https://parentscare.org 🔗 UPDATES & LINKS▶ Subscribe: / @lakeforestpodcast ▶ Visit: https://www.lakeforestpodcast.com▶ Support the show: / lakeforestpodcast ▶ Newsletter: https://petejansons.substack.com 🎙️ The Lake Forest Podcast drops every Saturday at 8:00 AM CT📩 Got a tip? pete@lakeforestpodcast.com📞 Press/Tips: 847-922-4776 The Lake Forest Podcast — Not news. Just neighbors. We document. You decide. #LakeForestPodcast #LakeForestIL #District115 #LFHS #D115 #LakeForestSchools #SchoolBoard #Enrollment #SchoolBudget #District67 #LakeBluffIL #NorthShore #60045 #Accountability #Transparency #SmallTownPolitics
