Hinsdale D-86 Defends Project Cost Overruns

DARIEN, IL – The first Hinsdale High School District 86 resident to bring up critical race theory at a school board meeting last year had a new line of questioning Thursday.

Hinsdale resident Andrew Catton inquired about the rising costs of projects related to the 2019 referendum. He concluded with his feelings about the district's superintendent, Tammy Prentiss.

District 86 is far from alone with increasing construction costs. In Elmhurst School District 86, where voters approved a referendum in 2018, the school board also has encountered bigger construction bills.

In District 86, the discussion about overruns came as the board was considering transferring $2.7 million from its main account to the one for construction.

During public comments, Catton suggested the district was doing nothing to limit the costs of projects. He asked why the district should "eat up" the added expenses.

"What has the district done to push back on the cost increases?" he said.

Josh Stephenson, the district's chief financial officer, cited supply chain issues and increasing wages. In some cases, he said, the district has re-bid certain trades for projects.

Catton then suggested the district postpone the construction for when things get better.

Stephenson responded that delaying work past 2023 may be risky.

"(The costs) may not get significantly better. They could get worse," he said. "There's no guarantee that you're going to get a better cost in the future."

Earlier this year, the Elmhurst school board talked about delaying projects, but the administration made a similar argument against doing so. The board proceeded with its original schedule.

At District 86's meeting, board President Erik Held said uncompetitive bids did not drive the cost overruns. He said the district cut costs through "value engineering."

Catton remained unconvinced.

"I don't see any drive or care from this board majority on how to avoid these cost increases in regard to the referendum," Catton said. "I just don't see it."

Although Catton was referring to the majority, the entire board has largely been on the same page with the referendum projects.

Later in the debate, Catton approached the board again. Held said board members needed to discuss the issue first.

Undeterred, Catton said, "You can fire Tammy to add to the board's savings," referring to the superintendent.

The board later voted 6-1 for transferring the money.

A year ago, Catton alleged District 86 was teaching critical race theory to students. He provided no examples or proof.

Others have since made similar allegations. The issue has been brought up at school board meetings across the country.

Critical race theory is a decades-old legal and academic framework that looks at and critiques how race and racism shaped U.S. laws and institutions that remain in place today.

The phrase has become a catchall for various claims about racism and race relations in the United States having nothing to do with critical race theory itself.

District 86 has denied teaching critical race theory.