See Video: 'Gaslight' Charge At Hinsdale D-86

DARIEN, IL – Some members of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board last week expressed unhappiness that one member has received more committee assignments than the others.

One suggested the board president had tried to "gaslight" her on the issue. "Gaslight" means to manipulate someone psychologically.

At Thursday's board meeting, member Peggy James brought up member Debbie Levinthal's request to join the Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee, or PTAC.

In response, board President Erik Held said he didn't want to change committee memberships during the middle of his one-year term.

"For a board member to say to the president, 'So-and-so is there and I want to be there,' I don't think anyone wants to have that sort of movement over the course of a year with committees," Held said.

Levinthal objected.

"I just want to state my request was extremely polite – in your words, 'not without merit.' It was even prior to the committee starting to meet," she said.

Kathleen Hirsman, the longest-serving board member, serves on six committees to Levinthal's two, officials said.

Levinthal said Held "never closed the loop" and had the courtesy to respond to her request to serve on the parent-teacher committee.

"I'm not going to let you gaslight me that all of a sudden now that my request was without merit when you stated it was with merit," Levinthal said.

Held said he had several discussions with Hirsman about whether she wanted to step down from committees. He said he still believed Levinthal's request had merit.

"I don't believe from (Hirsman's) comments that she wanted to step down," Held said. "At this time, there is not any movement that is going to happen because I don't want to remove someone because someone else wants to be on (a committee). I don't think your request was in poor taste."

Levinthal said the committee assignments were made after her request.

Hirsman said she has never bumped anyone from a committee in her seven years on the board.

"To my understanding, you did not put in a request to be on the PTAC at that time," Hirsman said to Levinthal.

Levinthal said, "I did actually," adding, "It's fine. Let's move on."

Board member Jeff Waters said Levinthal was frustrated with the fact that Hirsman sits on so many committees compared to other members.

The next school board election is in April.