Hinsdale D86 Board Getting Private Student Info?

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's former board president last month accused some of his then-colleagues of trying to get private student information.

Board members denied that allegation at a meeting earlier this month.

At the time, Held was making the case against a proposed policy in which the board president would have a greater role in the district's dealings with its law firm.

"I personally blocked more than a few requests from board members who wanted to know more and more student information, including going to attorneys, and in the process, they would be uncovering student-identified information," Held said in a June 27 email to the board.

At the July 11 board meeting, board President Catherine Greenspon asked Kari Smith, assistant superintendent of student services, whether board members have "requested student information or to sit in or been informed about private student matters."

Smith responded, "There's not been a request to sit in on students meetings with myself or the attorneys."

Greenspon and Held were not on the board at the same time. Greenspon was elected in April 2023, while Held decided against running again.

Member Jeff Waters and Held were colleagues. At the July 11 meeting, Waters said he had neither received nor requested any private student information since joining the board in 2021.

On the district's website are invoices from its law firm, Chicago-based Robbins Schwartz. Much of the information is blacked out, with the district citing the secrecy of attorney-client communications.

The invoices were posted as the result of Freedom of Information Act requests from Daniel Levinthal, the husband of former board member Debbie Levinthal, who resigned in frustration with the board's leadership last fall.

Over the last few months, the invoices show Greenspon took part in meetings and calls with attorneys. But none of those sessions with Greenspon involved Smith.

At the same time, Greenspon was listed under invoices with the heading "students." The sessions included Robbins Schwartz lawyers who specialize in student matters.

In an email, Patch asked Greenspon about her involvement in the student matters. For the first time since she took the helm in May 2023, Greenspon responded to a Patch inquiry.

"These (invoice) entries all involve issues affecting groups of students or all students at the District," Greenspon said. "The administration and Robbins Schwartz did not provide the Board President any information that could identify individual students."

Under the federal student privacy law, board members are considered "officials" who may be able to get private student information if they have a legitimate educational interest. As a practical matter, experts say, it's rare for board members to be able to legally justify obtaining such information.