Hinsdale D-86 Plans Closed Meeting Friday

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board announced Wednesday afternoon that it planned to hold a closed session Friday. But it gave no clue about the general topic of the unexpected meeting. (Thursday morning, after this story was published, the district revealed the subject was personnel.)

The board referred to a list of 15 exceptions under the state Open Meetings Act in which it is allowed to close its doors. The board's agenda indicates it plans to take no action afterward.

The meeting is set for 4 p.m. in Hinsdale South High School's library. It is rare for the District 86 board or most public bodies to hold a meeting on Friday, let alone late in the afternoon.

Many government bodies give an idea to the public about the general subject for a closed meeting. For instance, the Clarendon Hills Village Board is meeting behind closed doors Wednesday night about personnel issues. It is set to take action after it opens the doors.

In June 2020, the District 86 board held a special closed session on a Thursday about the mysterious exit of the district's human resources official. Members voted to accept his resignation, but many questions remained unanswered about that situation.

At a school board meeting last week, some residents in attendance called for the removal of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss for her role in a controversy involving an anti-racism consultant.