Belleville school board appoints two members, including one familiar face
After the spring election left two vacancies on the Belleville Township High School District 201 board, appointed members were sworn in Monday evening.
One of them isn’t new.
Long-time board member Mark Sauerwein, of Belleville, returned to fill one of the open seats after previously deciding not to run for re-election. Swansea’s Shari Bennett, a first-time board member, is filling the second vacancy. They will serve on the board until spring 2027.
After serving 10 years, Sauerwein planned to retire from the board to spend more time with his new grandchild. His term ended this spring and he did not seek re-election.
But Sauerwein said he had second thoughts. The 2025-2026 school year will usher in several administration shifts — including a new superintendent, Marshaun C. Warren, and Sauerwein said he wanted to be part of the new era.
“After I didn’t run, I kind of thought, ‘My time’s not done yet,’” he said. “I want to support Dr. Warren and the new administration.”
Sauerwein is an executive vice president and regional commercial manager for Central Bank and oversees the commercial lending staff in four locations.
Bennett is a career military officer. As an Army logistician, she ensures soldiers have everything they need to win wars, she explained. She’s also a parent of Belleville East students.
When the family moved to the area two years ago, her children attended Althoff Catholic High School. Bennett felt like “something was missing,” and so she transferred them to East. She found East had more resources, and “the teachers are so dedicated to student success, and they give them the tools to succeed.”
Bennett said she’s eager to leverage the skills she’s learned in her career, and her role as a parent in the district, during her school board term.
“I’m a strategic thinker, critical thinker and emotionally intelligent,” Bennett said. “Plus, I have kids in the district, so that adds a personal touch as well.”
Bennett and Sauerwein’s appointments were necessary because the two open seats weren’t filled during the April election.
Ben Wanless, Marvin Lampkin and Sauerwein’s terms ended. Lampkin, who served on the board for more than a decade, and Sauerwein did not run for re-election. Wanless did and maintained his seat.
But no one ran for the seats Lampkin and Sauerwein filled, leaving them open to appointment. The board solicited applications and selected Bennett and Sauerwein to fill the vacancies.
Wanless was sworn in for his new term alongside Sauerwein and Bennett Monday afternoon.
In addition to swearing in Bennett and Sauerwein, the board also voted on its leadership positions for the next two years:
Mike Eiskant is the board’s president. He supersedes Sauerwein in this role.
Mike Todd is the board’s vice president. He supersedes Eiskant in this role.
Kim Ellison is the board’s secretary. She maintains the position.
Dustin Bilbruck, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, is the district’s treasurer. He maintains this position.
This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 5:30 AM.