New Leader For Hinsdale D-86 Board Elected In Split Vote

DARIEN, IL – The majority faction on the Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Thursday elected a new board president and ousted the minority from leadership.

One board member called the process "shameful."

Near the end of a four-hour meeting, member Kathleen Hirsman nominated member Erik Held as the new president. They, along with current President Terri Walker and member Cynthia Hanson, voted for Held.

Members Jeff Waters, Peggy James and Debbie Levinthal supported James.

Along the same lines, Hirsman was elected vice president and Walker as secretary.

A year ago, Walker, Levinthal, James and Waters were newly elected. At their first meeting, the board endured 10 ballots before settling on Walker as president. For the first nine ballots, the three board holdovers backed Hirsman for president, while the new members split between Waters and Walker.

During the discussion, Waters, who ran as a team with James last year, nominated her for president. He praised her work, saying she pushed openness and stayed loyal to her campaign platform.

"I think you are more committed to board service than I am, and I find myself quite committed," Waters said. "I think you are extremely well-researched, and I find I'm the beneficiary of some of it."

Held promised to listen to residents.

"We are a collaborative unit here, and I hope to continue to drive that collaboration," he said.

Levinthal said she wanted the next president to keep the board fully informed, including about legal advice.

She ran with Walker as a team last year and backed her through the 10 ballots. But they have since parted ways, with Levinthal critical of Walker's leadership.

"I'm hopeful the next board president will work to build consensus and work with everyone at the board table, not stifle discussion of topics or community concerns," Levinthal said.

Later, when it became apparent the majority would oust James as secretary, Levinthal expressed disgust. She said the board was ignoring its recent talk about unity.

"It is very clear where this is going," she said. "It's really, really shameful."

Hanson said she was personally committed to collaboration, which drew mocking laughter from audience members opposed to the majority.

"I pride myself in listening to different opinions and upholding what is the responsibility of the board," Hanson said.

Waters said he was an "eternal optimist." He said he had an ability to employ diplomacy.

He said the board has shown it could unite on issues. A couple of meetings ago, he noted, the board agreed to only require two members to get an item on a meeting agenda.

Before that, Walker required four members, which irked the minority.

Waters also recalled the board's compromise over the science curriculum, which members had debated for months.

He urged the board to vote 7-0 in favor of James as secretary and "rid ourselves of the perception of a block." Doing so, he said, would provide some "semblance of unity."

"I hope we give her that opportunity again," Waters said.

The board again split along the same lines.

It was unclear why Walker was not renominated for president. She may have privately informed others she had no interest in another one-year term as leader.

Earlier in the meeting, Hanson praised Walker.

"With the election officers, regardless of how that turns out, I would like to thank you for your service this past year," Hanson said. "You put a lot of work in. You led us tirelessly."

As president, Walker presided over the discussion about the election, but she did not weigh in.