Hinsdale Woman Appointed To D86 Board

DARIEN, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Thursday chose a resident who has lived in both high schools' zones to be the newest member.

The vote was unanimous for Heather Kartsounes, a patent lawyer, to replace member Kay Gallo, who resigned in October in frustration with the board's leadership.

Minutes after the board's decision Thursday, the district issued a news release about Kartsounes.

Kartsounes, a Hinsdale resident, previously lived in Darien.

As it stands now, the board consists of five members, including Kartsounes, from Hinsdale Central's zone and two from South's.

Until September, the board held a 6-1 Central majority for more than two years.

Kartsounes was one of 21 applicants for the position. The board chose to hold its interviews of the unidentified finalists behind closed doors, which it can do under state law.

Kartsounes has more than two decades of experience in intellectual property, higher education, research and healthcare law.

She has been the senior associate general counsel at Rush University Medical Center since 2014.

In the news release, the district said Kartsounes has three children who currently or will attend Hinsdale Central.

In October, the board picked Dr. Abed Rahman, a Willowbrook physician, for the position left vacant by Debbie Levinthal. She resigned a month earlier, criticizing the board's leadership.

In the news release, board President Catherine Greenspon said Kartsounes' "valuable perspectives, professional expertise and passionate commitment to District 86 will be significant assets" to the board.

She also expressed what she said was the board's gratitude for Gallo's "dedicated service" as a board member.

Gallo served on the board from 2009 to 2017 and then was elected again in April.

Kartsounes comes to the board in a period of uncertainty. In addition to the members' resignations, the board ousted the former superintendent in June and hired two interim superintendents shortly after. Earlier this week, it was revealed that one of the district's two interim superintendents, Linda Yonke, would resign Friday, an unexpected turn of events.