D-86 Official Won't Answer Emails

HINSDALE, IL — The email addresses for Hinsdale High School District 86 board members are on the district's website. But if you're emailing member Kevin Camden, don't expect a response.

At last week's board meeting, Camden, who was elected in 2017, announced he would no longer answer constituents' emails and, instead, would send them to the district's communications director. He said portions of his emails have been distributed online and taken out of context. He did not indicate whether he had a preferred method, if any, of communicating with the public.

In December and early January, Camden said, a few of his emails were "bastardized" and used to support people's personal issues related to the board.

"The district communications director can respond on my behalf. I will not tolerate further back and forth via email," said Camden, a lawyer who specializes in employment law. "It's frustrating. If you want to attack anyone, I get it. I ran for it. I understand it. I'm more than happy to sit here and take it. But what we're not going to do is cut and paste certain things and put it out there and expect that's going to be the record that's out there."

Camden, the seven-member board's vice president, said he understood that his new policy would stymie communication between board members and the community. "Be that as it may, that's where we find ourselves," he said.

None of his colleagues weighed in on the issue.

Over the last few months, the board has taken heat for changes to the science curriculum. And the long controversy continues over whether the board favors Hinsdale Central over Hinsdale South.

Most politicians run for office saying they want to hear from their constituents. The three municipalities that make up much of District 86 — Hinsdale, Darien and Burr Ridge — post online the personal phone numbers of their mayors and board members.

When Patch reached out to Camden at his law firm email address, he wrote back, "This message pertains to a school board matter and it will not be addressed via my personal or professional email. If you wish to address school district matters, please email my board email."

Patch then sent an email to Camden's school account. True to his word, Camden did not respond, referring the matter to the communications director, Chris Jasculca. In an email, Jasculca noted the Illinois Association of School Boards' advice on board members' communications. It may be appropriate for constituents to contact board members for district-wide policies, but student-related concerns should work their way up the chain of command, according to the guidance. "Therefore, the individual board member is rarely the place to begin when you have a concern," the state association says.

If the school administration does not solve the problem, then the issue can be brought to the full school board, according to the association's guidance. Board members have no authority other than voting on official actions at meetings.

Jasculca referred to the local board's policy, which says if board members are contacted individually, they "will refer the person to the appropriate level of authority, except in unusual situations." While no rule bars board members from responding to constituents by email, he said, it is not considered best practice.

Camden did not return two calls for comment. His school email is kcamden@hinsdale86.org. His law firm's phone number is 630-640-4743.