See Video: Hinsdale D-86 Leader Under Fire

DARIEN, IL — Residents in Hinsdale High School District 86 on Thursday called for the removal of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss after the latest controversy involving the effort to hire an anti-racism consultant.

At a school meeting, they expressed anger with Prentiss' decision to publicly read the letter of withdrawal from Valda Valbrun, a North Carolina-based consultant who was poised to get a consulting contract.

In the letter, Valbrun denounced Hinsdale as "dangerous" and said she was the target of "vitriol and lack of professionalism" in direct messages from residents.

The residents at Thursday's meeting asked whether Prentiss consulted with the board before reading the letter, which they said scarred Hinsdale's reputation.

Board members Debbie Levinthal, Jeff Waters and Peggy James indicated they had not been consulted. The other four did not say.

The residents also took exception to a statement that Prentiss made to the Chicago Tribune about people attending the Jan. 13 board meeting, where the controversy over Valbrun surfaced publicly. She told the newspaper, "From an ideological standpoint, the individuals who attended the meeting on Jan. 13 represent those in our community who have always opposed this (equity) work, regardless of what we have said to them publicly or privately. That does not mean that we stop standing up for what we believe in."

Later in the meeting, board members spoke in favor of efforts to promote equity. No one specifically defended Prentiss.

Prentiss gave her usual report during the meeting, but did not mention the controversy.

In the public comment session near the end of the meeting, a man said he would give up his two minutes for Prentiss to respond to the criticism. But board President Terri Walker said public comment was not a chance for a debate. It was for the board to hear residents' views, she said.

At the beginning of the Jan. 13 meeting, Prentiss read Valbrun's letter, but she did not comment on it. Before that meeting, residents had been upset by some of Valbrun's tweets. In one, Valbrun called Republican governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas "devils," saying she hoped the "entire GOP implodes."

During the first public comment session Thursday, some residents encouraged an investigation into whether some incident happened when Valbrun was interviewed in the district. At the same time, they expressed doubt.

Resident Fred Boshardt said it was "ridiculous" to call Hinsdale a dangerous place.

"If employee conduct directed at Valbrun violated the law or codes of conduct, that is a serious matter," he said. "To clear the air and to resolve accusations against staff, which may very well be false, and to heal the community, the board needs to get to the bottom of the Valbrun allegations."

Boshardt suggested an independent investigation.

"To be clear, the superintendent who created this mess should have nothing to do with this investigation. A disloyal and destructive superintendent working with the complicity of the board cannot continue one second longer," he said.

The solution to the "horrible" situation, he said, was to remove or suspend Prentiss.

Resident Angela Sartori said she wanted a new superintendent.

"I am now left with a sick pit in my stomach reading about what our superintendent is saying about the people in our district," Sartori said. "Hiring a Republican-bashing consultant — that is a fact — who then purports to want everyone to thrive has no place in our district or any school district, frankly. Why the superintendent feels that it's appropriate to then give a public forum to that vendor is exceptionally poor judgment. She needs to go. She is not fit to lead this school district anymore."

While most of the speakers railed against Prentiss, some spoke up for the school district's work for equity.

Local Unitarian minster Pam Rumancik was one of them.

"I've heard many stories of people that felt afraid in this place," she said. "My question is, what are you afraid of? I hear so much anger in this room, and anger usually covers up fear, so what is the base of your fear? What are you afraid you're going to learn? Are you afraid that you're going to learn that there's more to this world than what you were told in your catechism or when you were growing up."

Laura Nelson, a 2014 graduate of Hinsdale Central, said she was disappointed the hiring of an equity consultant had fallen through. But she thanked board members "who have been working to keep these things pushing forward."

"There are students and teachers who really want equity initiatives," she said.

Valbrun's withdrawal was the second setback in hiring an anti-racism consultant to train staff. Last fall, a team of consultants agreed to terminate their contract after one of them tweeted a message that was seen as anti-police.

In their comments later in the meeting, board members Waters, Levinthal and James, often critics of the administration, took the district to task for the handling of Valbrun's withdrawal. None of them, though, called for ending the effort to hire a consultant.

James said she has contacted the superintendent with questions about why she read the withdrawal letter publicly. But she said she received no response.

"I would hope our district's communications team is going to defend our community's good name," she said.

Waters said he feared Valbrun's condemnation of Hinsdale may lead to an exodus of families, students and teachers. He said the board never gave permission for the letter to be read at the meeting.

"I am resolute in my objection to the inflammatory claims and gross mischaracterization of this community in Valbrun's letter of withdrawal," Waters said.

Levinthal said she inquired whether an investigation occurred about the situation involving Valbrun. She said she received no reply.

Board President Walker and members Erik Held, Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson did not address the issue of whether Prentiss consulted with them about the letter. And they had little to say about Valbrun's comments.

Walker said the district's equity efforts were in line with the state school board's directives, while Held spoke against banning of books in school libraries.

Hirsman said the district should continue its efforts for diversity, equity and inclusion.

"Just dial down the temperature, and instead of focusing on a consultant who is not hired, focus on the work we can do within our school district," she said.

Hanson expressed support for the district's equity work, adding, "There is not one person who gets it right all the time."

She also said she understood the frustration with Valbrun's comments.

More than 50 people attended the meeting, an unusually high number. Speakers on both sides of the issue received applause, though the cheering for the district's critics was louder.

In November 2020, Prentiss received a three-year contract as superintendent, with a $250,000 base salary. She started in July 2019, after having served as an assistant superintendent.

A committee meeting is planned for next month to chart the next steps in hiring a consultant.