'Affluent' Central Gets What South Does Not: Watchdog

DARIEN, IL – A resident who has long monitored the disparities between Hinsdale Central and South high schools suggested officials operate on a "bigoted notion" when allocating resources.

As he did last fall, Burr Ridge resident Adolph Galinski criticized Hinsdale High School District 86's plan to end the orchestra program at South.

At a school board committee meeting earlier this month, officials revealed that 30 South students expressed interest in taking orchestra classes.

The district has always said that South students can take courses at Central if they are unavailable at South. But they must find transportation to get there. And the transit time likely means missing other classes.

"Do you expect parents to leave employment mid-day to pick up and transport their child to the other school, every weekday, potentially for four years in order to access orchestra?" Galinski asked the board during its meeting Tuesday.

Last fall, Galinski said the board could solve the problem by allowing South orchestra students to go to Central all day, eliminating the issues with transportation and missing other classes.

At Tuesday's meeting, he said South students are denied opportunities that the South area's taxes help pay for.

"Your denial of equal education opportunities to South students exposes the institutionalized prejudice of District 86 policies that blatantly discriminate against students and families of lower socioeconomic status," Galinski said.

He said some families cannot afford to have a stay-at-home parent, caregiver or taxi service.

"Is this classism? Is this racism?" Galinski said. "What drives you to erect barriers that prevent Hinsdale South students from accessing the District 86 curriculum, other than the bigoted notion that South students don't deserve the same opportunities that you lavish upon their more affluent counterparts at Central?"

He said state law clearly states that a school district must provide equal education opportunities within its boundaries.

School board members did not respond, following their policy.

South has long had fewer course opportunities, with officials citing low demand for certain classes. South's enrollment is about half that of Central.

For years, South residents have suggested an attendance boundary change to equalize enrollments. But that idea is considered politically toxic because Central residents fear their home values would plunge if the line shifted. School board members oppose such a change.

Until a few years ago, the district contained a small buffer zone, where families could choose between Central and South. About 90 percent selected Central.