Hinsdale D86 Names Equity Official After Debate

DARIEN, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Thursday hired a new official in charge of equity efforts.

But a dissenter said that without taking certain steps, the move would bring divisions.

The board voted 5-1 for Chris Biddix, who has worked for seven years at Pritzker College Prep. He received a one-year $112,000 contract.

Members Catherine Greenspon, Terri Walker, Kay Gallo, Debbie Levinthal and Asma Akhras voted for Biddix, while Jeff Waters voted no.

Asked for her vote, member Peggy James paused and then abstained.

Waters appeared to be against the position, not the candidate.

In an earlier discussion, Waters brought up the school's controversies in hiring an anti-racist consultant over the last couple of years.

"This position is certainly different, but the process, engagement and buy-in, those things matter," Waters said. "So those ideals need to transpire, in my estimation, before this consideration. Anything else will foster divisiveness."

During public comments, a number of residents supported keeping the position of director of equity and inclusion, formerly titled the director of instructional equity.

But part-time Hinsdale resident Jim Conlan warned against it. He said positions focused on equity have a "leftist bent" and are associated with the Democratic Party.

"(Diversity, equity and inclusion), it's controversial in the country, it's controversial in Illinois, it's controversial in District 86," Conlan said.

Pritzker College Prep, where Biddix has worked, is part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools, which the Chicago Public Schools authorized.

Biddix served as the assistant principal of academics and instruction, the manager of school culture and community engagement, and a grade-level dean and math teacher, according to a District 86 news release.

Biddix also provided English-as-a-second-language support for students.

Before Chicago, Biddix spent three years as a middle school teacher at Crazy Horse School and Wounded Knee District School in South Dakota. Those schools were run by the Oglala Lakota Nation.

Biddix earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies and linguistics from Liberty University, a private Baptist University founded by Jerry Falwell Sr.

He received a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from Grand Canyon University, and an education specialist degree in educational leadership and policy from Purdue University, according to the news release. He is said to be working on his doctorate.

Biddix is set to replace Patrice Payne, who is leaving Friday. She filled the position for nearly two years, making a $115,000 salary.

During the debate, member Walker said students have reported negative experiences in the district, so the equity position was needed.

James, however, said the district has policies to deal with such problems, to which Walker responded, "We cannot ignore that these issues exist."

Levinthal agreed with Walker.

"We want to be proactive in preventing the incidents from happening," she said. "Any sort of bullying shouldn't be tolerated. We should be fostering a school community to make it less likely to happen."

In May, Payne, the current director, spoke about a District 86 program "championing" struggling students. She presented numbers that she said showed improvements in the grades of most of those championed.