Hinsdale D86 Affirmative Action Inquiry Pushed

DARIEN, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member last week proposed paying the district's lawyer to investigate whether the district is complying with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on affirmative action.

But his idea received blowback from colleagues.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled in Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard that race-based affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional.

At Thursday's board meeting, Waters said he would like the board's lawyer to make a presentation next month about the district's liability in relation to the court's ruling. Corporations and medical and law schools are examining what they must do to comply, he said.

Waters said it was both prudent and beneficial for the board to find out its potential risk on staffing, discipline and student groups, among other things.

None of Waters' colleagues immediately responded to his request.

During public comments, resident Linda Burke, who has closely watched the board for decades, took members to task for saying nothing about Waters' proposal. Such an investigation, Burke said, could quickly "devolve into a witch hunt looking for critical race theory, which is an all-purpose bogeyman that means whatever any race-baiting demagogue wants it to mean."

The board should firmly reject the request for an investigation, Burke said.

"There's no mandate for it. We don't have time for it," Burke said. "It is extremely divisive. Someone just needs to say no."

Shortly after, board member Terri Walker explained why she was silent after Waters spoke.

"I have to admit I was so stunned by my fellow board member's request ... that I couldn't really even speak," Walker said. "I don't know what the process is to actually implement this request, but I absolutely do not support bringing in any law firm to have any type of discussion about the recent Supreme Court ruling."

Member Kay Gallo agreed.

"Thank you for bringing it up, Ms. Walker," Gallo said. "I just have no words because I don't understand what's being asked. If it's to discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling, I don't know what it has to do with our district."

Member Debbie Levinthal also said she was unclear about Waters' request, saying a public school district must serve all students within its boundaries no matter their differences.

Board President Catherine Greenspon noted the Illinois school board association provides suggested updates to districts' policies when changes in the law occur.