Hinsdale D-86 Leader Mum In Face Of Criticism

DARIEN, IL — The open part of Hinsdale High School District 86's meeting lasted more than three hours last Thursday. A lot of the meeting was devoted to public comments, most of them in criticism of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

One key person did not utter a word for public consumption at the meeting: That would be Prentiss herself.

She did not respond to any of the criticism directed her way about the mask mandate or the controversy over an anti-racism consultant.

In the last year, every meeting agenda has included a superintendent's report. Last week's had no such item.

Asked about this, the district's spokesman, Chris Jasculca, said in an email that the agenda was "intentionally pared down" to leave ample time for the discussion of the court order suspending the governor's mask mandate in nearly 150 school districts, including District 86.

As it was, many of the nearly 200 people at the meeting wielded "Fire Tammy Prentiss" signs and repeatedly heckled board members with whom they disagreed.

At a late January meeting, a Prentiss critic demanded the superintendent answer questions at that moment. But board President Terri Walker said public comment was a chance for the board to hear from residents, not a time for debate. This policy resembles those in other districts, including Lyons Township High School and Elmhurst School District 205.