Tensions On Grading Boil Over At D-86 Meeting

DARIEN, IL — A new grading system that eliminates zeroes from the grading scale in Hinsdale High School District 86 sparked concerns among some school board members. Tensions over the issue surfaced at last week's meeting.

Starting this school year, the district eliminated 38 different grading scales at its two schools and developed a unified one. Now, rather than getting a zero for a missing assignment, a student would get a 50 percent. Officials say that giving a student a couple of zeroes during a semester makes it nearly impossible to climb out of the hole.

Under the new system, a major difference occurs when students fail to take tests or complete major assignments. In such cases, students would receive an ME, or "missing and essential," which amounts to 50 percent, rather than a zero. Those students cannot pass the class until they finish the missing work.

During the meeting, board member Jeff Waters said he feared students would "blow off" minor assignments such as homework because doing so would result in a 50 percent, rather than a zero. This would likely mean they would fail to learn the material, he said, an issue he called a "moral hazard."

"This will only put them further behind the eight-ball in my estimation, unless these kids get 36s on the ACT," Waters said. "Kids need to be held accountable. I'm sure this policy would be appropriate for some, but not all."

Waters requested the board discuss the grading issue at an October board meeting. A few in the audience loudly applauded.

Board members Debbie Levinthal and Peggy James agreed to Waters' request. They said they heard concerns from the public about the new system.

Others, however, said any discussion should wait until early next year, when the semester ends and the district would have data on how things worked out.

Levinthal said she reviewed the board's discussion about the proposed grading scale at its March meeting, a month before she was elected. She noted member Marty Turek, who later lost in the election, indicated the board would not vote on the issue that night and that it would come back to the board later. This statement, Levinthal said, left the impression the board would vote on it.

"As someone who is an engaged community member, it was never communicated to me that it was not to be approved by the board of education," Levinthal said, raising her voice slightly. "That is on the administration for not making that clear to the community."

That prompted members Erik Held and Kathleen Hirsman to interrupt. Hirsman repeatedly said, "Point of order!"

Levinthal responded, "Excuse me!"

Hirsman said the board was simply trying to determine whether the grading issue should be discussed at a board meeting. She said the board's policy was not to involve itself in the grading system. She asked Waters whether he wanted to change that policy or review the grading practices.

He said he sought to look at the practices.

Board President Terri Walker said she was fine with a discussion, but was unclear what it would be about without any new data. She ended the subject by saying the board could bring up the topic at a meeting in November, rather than October.

The more intense moments of the debate happened while the board was in the fifth hour of its meeting, well past 10 p.m. The grading system took up much of the session.