Want To Vent? Hinsdale D-86 May Give More Time

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board last week reopened the issue of whether it should allow more time for public comments.

The board has long allowed a half hour of such comments near the start of meetings, usually giving three minutes to each speaker.

When the board runs out of time, it moves speakers to the end of the meeting. To make that later session, residents often must endure four or five hours of presentations and debates until they get the chance to speak.

Officials said the state school boards association suggested boards consider whether to put no cap on comments or place a limit of, say, an hour.

When asked about it, the board split along its usual lines. The four-member majority of Erik Held, Terri Walker, Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson said they were fine with the existing limit.

However, the three-member minority of Debbie Levinthal, Peggy James and Jeff Waters recommended having no cap.

Held, the board's president, said members have shown they are willing to extend the limit when big issues arise. It did so when the referendum and the buffer attendance zone became topics, he said.

"We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to be heard," Held said.

Levinthal said the majority's resistance to increasing the time for comments sends "a very loud message to the community."

Waters tried to find common ground. He asked the majority whether it would go with a 45-minute cap at the beginning of meetings.

Hanson said she was willing to do so in the spirit of compromise.

Held agreed.

"I don't think it's beyond the pale to go to 45 minutes," he said.

The board did not take a vote, but is likely to do so at a later meeting.