Hinsdale D-86 Critic Plans To Run For Board

DARIEN, IL – A critic of Hinsdale High School District 86's leadership announced Thursday she would run for the school board next year.

At a school board meeting, resident Catherine Greenspon revealed her plans during public comments.

Last month, she and resident Kim Notaro presented numbers showing that the graduation rates for special education students at Hinsdale Central and South high schools were below the state average.

For instance, 35.5 percent of South's special education students – those with "individualized educational plans" – graduated last year, according to state numbers. That compares to 72 percent among such students statewide.

The school district responded in a message to families in the South area. It explained why the local numbers were lower.

According to the district, 45 of South's 69 special education students had enough credits to graduate, but chose to move on to the district's transition center after their senior year. Because of this, they couldn't be counted in the 2021 graduation figures, the district said.

The entire 2021 senior class was made up of 377 students. In all, nearly 12 percent of the class went to the transition center.

"That is upsetting to me, and that should be a little upsetting to you," Greenspon told the school board Thursday. "There are children who need the transition center, and they do beautiful work. There is no question."

But she said it was questionable that nearly 12 percent of South students were going to the center. She said the district should aim to get students ready to graduate in four years.

On another issue, she said she was "super disappointed" in the district's response to Patch about allegations against Central baseball players.

The district received a complaint that players made racial and other slurs against Lyons Township High School players at an away game.

"No worries, though," Greenspon said, adding that she was seeking information from District 86, Lyons Township and the Illinois High School Association about the allegations.

The district confirmed to Patch that it was investigating the complaint.

Greenspon said she was working with government agencies to "clean up the messes" in the district.

"It is clear to me that in order to prevent these things from happening, I need to be sitting at the table," she said. "So I will be running for the board in 2023."

Many in the audience, also critics of the board, applauded.

A few weeks ago, former school board President Kay Gallo said she was seriously considering running for the board next April.

In February, she launched a Change.org petition calling for Superintendent Tammy Prentiss' ouster.