Hinsdale D86 Board Takes Stand On Schools' Inequality

HINSDALE, IL – All seven Hinsdale High School District 86 board members agreed Thursday to work toward equalizing the course offerings at Central and South high schools.

In school jargon, the process of making that happen is known as "alignment."

Five years ago, a previous school board launched the effort. This was in response to a longstanding inequality in which the wealthier and larger Central offers a greater course selection.

In the fall, the new board majority rejected social studies teachers' proposal for aligning courses at the two schools. It was a move the teachers union denounced.

As a result, doubts grew about whether the school board wanted to work toward equality between the two schools. The administration stalled all work toward alignment and asked for the board's guidance.

After a staff presentation Thursday, all board members said they wanted to continue the effort.

Member Peggy James said was behind the process "100 percent." But she backed a slower approach.

"My concern is where we start adding new courses to replace others," she told the board. "I'd like those to be pilot programs as opposed to getting rid of what we've got and starting over."

After the meeting, former board President Erik Held praised members for the continuation of the effort that began during his four years on the board. He said it was an affirmation of previous boards' work.

Earlier in the day, he emailed the board about his support for alignment. He rejected the views of alignment foes who he said frame their arguments in positive terms, saying they want to respect the "flavor" of each school.

"In practice what that will do is isolate Hinsdale South, as it had been. Over my final year on the Board as President, I heard from multiple vocal community members (Central-area only) that we don't need alignment; we need to split the District in two to let South do as it will ...'for its benefit,' given its unique circumstances (but what are they really saying?)," Held, a Central graduate, said in the email.

He continued, "It would be educational and governmental malfeasance to define administrative barriers between the two schools, and that path starts by abandoning alignment under the fig leaf that 'both schools are so different!'"

Held was likely referring to a petition last year in which residents said the two schools are "very different" and have "very different needs."

In October, a Hinsdale resident warned about the influence of South over Central. She said that could hurt Central.