D-86 'Antiracist' Pact Never Got Board's Approval In 2020

HINSDALE, IL — In September, Hinsdale High School District 86's two "antiracist" consultants resigned after a controversial anti-police tweet.

Just the month before, the board voted 5-2 for their contract.

A year earlier, the district hired the same two consulting firms, Anew Collective Consulting and Saxman Consulting, and paid them $69,300 over the course of a school year.

Here's the thing: Their contract never went through the board. So it never became a subject of public discussion.

Asked why the agreement did not come before the board, district spokesman Chris Jasculca said in an email, "The contract was included in the overall budget for the district that was approved by the board."

Under the board's current policies, members do not need to take action on each individual contract, according to the district. Instead, some are approved as part of the annual budget process. The policy in question is expected to undergo a board review soon.

Under last year's contract, the consultants were required to provide the district's employees with antiracist training, which the district said would be voluntary.

The consultants were also hired to design curriculum and facilitate development of "racial consciousness to build capacity for more vulnerable and adaptive leadership."

Under this year's terminated contract, the consultants were to provide similar services. They were set to be paid $52,000. According to the district, the consultants provided no services, so they received no money.

In August, Christine Saxman, one of the consultants, retweeted a message that read, "Cops quitting because they won't get vaxxed feels like a real two-birds-one-stone situation."

Residents and board members objected to the tweet. As a result, the consultants agreed to resign. At the Sept. 16 board meeting, the board unanimously voted to terminate the contract.

In the August meeting, members Jeff Waters and Peggy James voted against the contract for the consultants, saying they wanted a presentation from the consultants first.

With April's election, a new board majority took office, which may explain the different approach to approval of contracts.