District 86 Leader Tells You Who To Blame

HINSDALE, IL — If residents want to vent their anger at local school officials about going fully remote, the leader of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board has a suggestion — shift the blame elsewhere.

At last week's board meeting, board President Kevin Camden responded to pleas that the school begin at least some in-person learning. The district had planned to do just that until it received new state guidance a few weeks before the start of school. Then it decided to go fully remote.

"I don't like it, folks," Camden said. "You've heard me every meeting this summer suggesting that this board is more active than the Legislature. I think that continues to be the case."

He said the blame is bipartisan.

"If you want to get kids to be in the classroom, continue to be angry. Just shift who you're angry with and focus the attention on elected officials," he said.

The district, Camden said, knows of ways to get students in the classroom for in-person learning, which would involve a significant amount of testing. But he said the district is ultimately subject to state and local health regulations. Flouting those rules would be a losing battle, he said.

Board member Keith Chval said the district has specifically looked at flouting state regulations, but doing so would not be a "pretty picture," exposing the district to liability.

"If there is energy to be directed, it should be directed locally to elected representatives and down to Springfield," Chval said.

Camden acknowledged some schools were meeting in person, particularly private schools. But he said that situation may not last for long. By mid-September, he predicted most private schools would move to fully remote learning because of increased outbreaks. "I hope I'm wrong," Camden said.

Camden also encouraged people to stay positive.

"The less positive we are for students, the less positive we are for teachers, that rubs off," he said. "The kids understand it's different. They get it. We can make it different in a negative way and wallow in how it's not the same and how we're upset at this political party or how we don't like that."

Or he said the district could frame the situation in a positive way, Camden said.

"We'll have to maximize whatever small gains we get," he said.