Divided D-86 Board Strikes Science Compromise

DARIEN, IL — The controversy over the science curriculum split the Hinsdale High School District 86 board for months. On Thursday, members were unanimous in support of a compromise.

They voted to offer two curriculums: One of them features physics for freshman, chemistry for sophomores and biology for juniors. The other is the reversed sequence.

At meetings for months, board members debated late into the night over which science pathway was better. Hinsdale South has offered the physics-first curriculum for a decade, while Hinsdale Central featured the traditional biology-first sequence.

In 2019, as part of the effort to unify the curriculums at the two schools, the old board unanimously backed the physics-first program. But many Central parents objected. Their anger helped propel a new majority — Terri Walker, Debbie Levinthal, Peggy James and Jeff Waters — to win school board seats in April's election.

That left the board's holdovers — Kathleen Hirsman, Erik Held and Cynthia Hanson — to argue for the 2019 decision.

Over the last couple of years, those working in science fields took opposite sides on the curriculum. During Thursday's public input, a microbiologist backed the physics-first sequence, saying it was the natural progression for learning the sciences. The district's teachers have made similar arguments.

The science curriculum was approved as part of the larger program of studies for next school year.

With the two pathways, the district expects it will hire two more teachers at South, the smaller of the two schools. That comes at an estimated cost of up to $200,000, but that could change depending on which pathway students choose, officials said.

In voting yes, Levinthal said she still had concerns with the program of studies, but she said she appreciated that the biology-first curriculum is staying intact.

Added Waters, "It has been a long road. I'm glad we got here. We did the right thing."

Held said the district was moving toward the "holy grail" of a single program of studies for the two schools. He acknowledged South families' concerns that their students have fewer opportunities. Earlier this year, the district agreed with an analysis that Central is offering 90 more unique courses than South this year.

If only two South students want to take biology first, Held said, then the district should offer the class "come hell or high water."

"It should be imperative to us that it is always run. That may come with a financial burden," Held said. "We have to live that curricular equity that we have been talking about ... and make sure there is no student whose science dreams are left behind."

Six of the seven board members come from the Central zone. Hanson is the exception.