Frustration In Hinsdale D86 Legal Bills Debate

DARIEN, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member expressed frustration last week during the discussion over the district's legal bills.

In the end, the board voted 5-2 to pay $26,506 to the Hodges Loizzi law firm.

At the beginning of a short debate, member Debbie Levinthal said she would vote no because of some of the fees. Those costs, she said, were incurred at the direction of the board majority in the latest billing cycle.

Member Cynthia Hanson asked for details, but Levinthal declined to provide them, citing the secrecy of attorney-client matters.

"I don't want to walk the line and step over it," Levinthal said.

Board President Erik Held encouraged a conversation between Levinthal and Hanson after the meeting.

During the vote, two members made comments beforehand.

Hanson was first, saying it would be nice if members weren't constantly divided. She said it was "completely frustrating" to hear generalizations in which she was "mushed" in with the majority.

Hanson said she comes up with her own position on issues. And she said the divisions over the last couple of years were exhausting.

"It didn't have to be this way," she said.

Waters also spoke during the vote.

"Board member Hanson, I would just implore you to consider that people have different thoughts and considerations," he said. "I don't think it's a false narrative to maintain that there is a pretty stringent line between some members of this board, which was mentioned as in the majority and minority. It doesn't make anyone right or wrong. It's just the nature we find ourselves in as a board."

Waters and Levinthal voted against the legal bills. Member Peggy James, who often aligns with the two, approved the spending.

The board's minority has voted against the bills before. Last year, the district spent more than $400,000 with Hodges Loizzi.

With the school board election April 4, the board majority is set to change soon. Hanson and her usual allies, Held and Kathleen Hirsman, are not running again. Terri Walker would be the only remaining majority member.