Geneva principal clocked at 103 mph in Porsche

A principal's alleged breaking of traffic law may serve as a lesson for his students and the public.

Geneva Middle School North Principal Lawrence Bidlack was charged in October with speeding. It might never have become a big deal, except that Campton Hills police say Bidlack was driving 103 mph in a 45 mph zone on rural Corron Road.

In his Porsche.

Bidlack was charged with speeding more than 40 mph over the limit, a Class A misdemeanor.

Bidlack, 46, lives on the 40W200 block of Carl Sandburg in Campton Hills. He was ticketed at 7:10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, and appeared in Kane County court Nov. 9. His case has been continued until Tuesday, Dec. 7. The principal declined to comment on the case Wednesday on the advice of his lawyer.

But his boss, Geneva Unit District 304 Superintendent Kent Mutchler, said he has spoken to Bidlack about the matter. Because it is a traffic infraction, the district does not have the ability under state law to impose sanctions against Bidlack, he said.

Mutchler said teachers and administrators should know “they are put up as role models and held to higher standards by the public. A lapse in judgment has been made,” he said. “It's a message he (Bidlack) has certainly gotten.”

This isn't the first time Bidlack has been ticketed for having a lead foot.

He had been cited for driving more than 20 mph over the limit two other times since 2003. He pleaded guilty and was fined $95 for driving 77 in a 45 mph zone along Route 20 in Elgin in September 2003, court records show. In 2005 he was ticketed for driving 21 to 25 mph over the limit in South Elgin. He pleaded guilty, was fined $95 and was placed under court supervision.

Kane County court records indicate Bidlack received a ticket in May 2010 from St. Charles police for failure to wear a seat belt while driving; he pleaded guilty and paid a $55 fine.

How will this affect Bidlack's relationship with students, especially those brought to him for breaking school rules? Won't adolescents think he is hypocritical?

“There would have to be trust reinforced,” Mutchler said. “You hope that ... things could be made stronger, or at least repaired.”

There is a lesson for students and the community, though, too, according to Mutchler: “People make mistakes. They're human.”

The district hired Bidlack as principal of Geneva Middle School in July 2001. When Geneva Middle School South opened, Bidlack was made principal of Geneva Middle School North. He makes $127,603 a year.

• Daily Herald staff writer Harry Hitzeman contributed to this report.