Central, South Teacher Cuts Pushed; Officials Differ Over Number

HINSDALE, IL – With declining enrollment, Hinsdale High School District 86 officials are pushing for cutting the number of teachers and other certified staff.

Since 2018, enrollment has fallen by 19 percent at Hinsdale South and 13 percent at Hinsdale Central.

At Thursday's school board meeting, the district's administration proposed reducing certified staff to 353 next year, from 360, about a 2 percent decrease.

Board member Jeff Waters, who started in 2021, said the board must show fiscal responsibility.

He said the board hadn't "manifested" that responsibility since 2018 or 2019, with such a small decline in staffing in light of the enrollment drops.

"I think we can do a lot better," he said.

If certified staff had fallen along with enrollment, Waters said it would now be at 333. He said the district should aim for 340.

Board member Liz Mitha said she was comfortable with the proposed cut, which she said was already double the reductions since 2019.

Mitha and others said they should consult with Chip Pettit, who is becoming the superintendent in July, about what he sees as an appropriate cut.

Pettit, who has a full-time superintendent's job in Indiana, is working some hours for District 86 during the transition.

Mitha said it would be "foolhardy" to make further cuts without seeking Pettit's advice.

"I want to make sure we're not making hasty decisions that could have consequences for kids," Mitha said.

Board President Catherine Greenspon urged the board to let the administration contact Pettit about the issue instead of arguing about it.

She said the district should hold off on filling seven or eight vacancies until the consultation.

In speaking about staffing, board member Bobby Fischer said he found it problematic that some department chairmen taught no classes.

"How can you lead a team if you aren't in the classroom teaching at all? Doesn't it cost them credibility?" Fischer said. "In the long run, is there a path to getting every department chair back in the classroom as an educator?"

Central Principal Bill Walsh said the administration likely agrees with doing that, but he said he wanted to consult with Pettit first.

"I would like Dr. Pettit to lead that conversation in the (2027) year," he said.

The current superintendent is Michael Lach, who is retiring June 30. He was at the meeting, but did not speak about the issues at hand.