Hinsdale D-86 Lawyers Fight Transparency: Official

DARIEN, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Thursday again split on whether to approve the monthly legal bills.

During the debate, board member Peggy James said she had been unable to get details on what the bills were for.

She also said the board's protocols call for legal advice to be given to all board members, not just some of them.

She said she only got a partial response from board President Terri Walker to her questions about the bills, which totaled $41,000.

Walker said she thought she had answered the questions, but she said she would look back at James' email.

Board member Debbie Levinthal agreed with James. She said the board lacked information.

"In going through the invoices, we are spending an inordinate amount to fight against transparency," she said.

Walker has repeatedly reminded the board that members cannot publicly discuss many details about the bills because they involve the secrecy of attorney-client communications.

Earlier this year, Walker told James in an email that her questions about the legal bills were "irrelevant." Walker explained at a meeting earlier this month that she made such a statement because the bills had already been approved.

The board voted 4-3 for the legal bills. James, Levinthal and Jeff Waters were the dissenters.