Divided Vote: Hinsdale D-86 Leader Gets Raise

BURR RIDGE, IL – In a divided vote, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Thursday approved a 1.4 percent raise for Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

The 4-3 vote fell along the usual lines of the majority and minority – Erik Held, Terri Walker, Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson in favor and Debbie Levinthal, Jeff Waters and Peggy James against.

With the raise, Prentiss is getting $3,600 more a year, bringing her salary to $264,257. In late April, the board approved 1.4 percent raises for all the district's other administrators.

At Thursday's meeting, no one commented on Prentiss' proposed raise except Waters.

"This is not something I'm prepared to do," Waters said. "The measure does not align with my confidence in the superintendent."

Waters said he was not sure how much the members could discuss the raise without being in a closed session.

"I can certainly make a motion at a later meeting to do so," he said.

The minority's dissent on the raise is the most obvious sign it opposes Prentiss, whose contract lasts through mid-2024.

In January and March, the board voted 4-3 in favor of Prentiss when complaints were lodged against her. The same three members opposed the superintendent each time.

During the public comment portion of Thursday's meeting, a number of residents expressed opposition to the raise.

Kay Gallo, a former school board president, said members failed to openly discuss Prentiss' performance and set goals for the next year. She called it a "travesty" for the district's students.

"This board must believe that this superintendent walks on water," she said. "This is disgusting."

Gallo has hinted before she plans to run in next April's board election. Earlier this year, she started a Change.org petition against Prentiss, collecting nearly 2,100 signatures.