David Vs. Goliath In Hinsdale South Lunch Battle

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's administration wanted to put the brakes on proposals for off-campus lunch at Hinsdale South.

It was an order Principal Patrick Hardy was required to follow.

However, a South civics class pushing the issue was under no such obligation. Its members persisted by speaking out at school board meetings. Their efforts are having an impact.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained interim superintendents' emails about the issue since last summer. They privately told the board they were delaying off-campus lunch at South.

Last July, then-interim Superintendent Jason Markey, who is an assistant superintendent now, said the district would not bring forward the proposal because of the board's feedback and the transition to new interim leadership. But he left open the possibility that South would look into the matter after the start of the new school year.

In February, interim Superintendent Raymond Lechner noted South's student liaison brought up the lunch issue. Lechner said he followed up by speaking with other administrators.

"(T)hey are not opposed to a pilot, but this may be a better topic to revisit this summer," Lechner said. "So we are pausing this for now."

In response to a resident's records request, the school recently released emails about off-campus lunch. Much of the correspondence was blacked out.

In an email this month to board member Heather Kartsounes, Principal Hardy said a civics class took on the lunch campaign, the same class that successfully advocated for crossing lights at South.

"Please know that these students are very thorough. They have been viewing and reviewing board meetings and related documents," Hardy wrote. "(T)he resurgence of this discussion is a direct result of their research, discussions and advocacy."

He said the civics class has the support of the wider community.

"(South's) administration did not bring this topic back to the table after being told not to," said Hardy, who is leaving for another job after this school year. "Instead, our students, supported by their families, are rallying as they have wanted this opportunity long before I arrived as principal, as I understand it."

After speaking at a few recent board meetings, the students have had an impact.

At a meeting earlier this month, member Jeff Waters called for the administration to decide on the issue soon.

"If the month of May expires without this particular proposal being concluded, the students are going to find out they're the only adults in the room," he said.

Under Hardy's proposal, off-campus lunch would be limited to seniors with C's or better. Central and South are now closed campuses at lunch.

Patch has contacted the school district's spokesman for more information on the civics class.