Hinsdale D86 Monitors 'Negative/Inaccurate' Social Media Posts

HINSDALE, IL – Writers of negative social media posts about Hinsdale High School District 86 should know that officials may well see their messages.

In 2023, the school board developed a set of "protocols," later revised in 2024 and 2025.

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According to the document, the executive director of communications will monitor and relay to the superintendent "questionable social media posts (e.g., posts containing negative/inaccurate information about the district)."

The superintendent will then issue an "appropriate response" to the commenter.

Like many public bodies, District 86 officials repeatedly express frustration with social media.

At an April board meeting, member Bobby Fischer said the board's opponents are "deeply unhappy," inspired by social media negativity. He advised his colleagues not to permit a few with "axes to grind" to haunt them.

He also said emails against board President Catherine Greenspon, who the board re-elected as its leader, were manufactured.

After that, Fischer received emails critical of his comments.

Resident Adrienne Nolan told him, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm not a bot, contrary to your comments last night. Your level of anger is disappointing when, as a board member, you work for the community and should be open to all voices."

And resident Kristine Weck said Fischer implied that her email and dozens of others were written by AI and that they were hiding behind computers, which she called "horribly insulting."

She said she couldn't attend the meeting because she was unable to get a babysitter for her children.

Fischer thanked both Nolan and Weck for their comments.

Although Weck and Nolan's emails before the meeting were original, dozens of others were not.

Patch found 38 anti-Greenspon emails that used almost identical language.

Part of those messages read, "To restore our district's reputation and stop the cycle of administrative instability and litigation, we need a new 'tone at the top.' We need leadership that prioritizes transparency and professional trust with our educators. Please vote for a reorganization that returns the focus to student excellence and community stability."

In an email to resident Nolan, board member Liz Mitha, who ran for president against Greenspon, sympathized with her.

"As a D86 constituent myself, I am in complete agreement that the response to community feedback last night was wholly inappropriate. I would have liked to see my peers' response something to the effect of, 'We hear you; some of this feedback is concerning. We need to talk about concrete ways to improve as a board,'" Mitha said. "Unfortunately, that response was not to be had."