'Dumpster Fire': Hinsdale D86 Seeks Board Member

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 is seeking a board member to replace Debbie Levinthal, who resigned suddenly last month because of apparent frustration with her colleagues.

At Monday's school board meeting, members discussed the timeline for their search for a new member. Also at the meeting, Anne Mueller, a former Hinsdale School District 181 board member, said she was disappointed in Levinthal's Sept. 18 departure.

Mueller read a portion of Levinthal's resignation letter: "My personal guiding principles ... have led me to conclude that my moral and ethical compasses are too divergent from, and are clearly irreconcilable with those of the board majority. I am no longer willing to tolerate what, in my opinion, has become the resultant toxic exercise in futility and frustration."

Mueller said Levinthal's reasons were "very concerning" and compared the district's situation to a "dumpster fire." She said the resignation couldn't come at a worse time, with the district searching for a new superintendent.

"I seriously worry whether any qualified, experienced individual would want to work with a majority of this board," Mueller said. "It's going to take a very strong, resilient individual to even contemplate applying for the District 86 superintendent's position. I genuinely hope that person is out there."

The board has not publicly reacted to Levinthal's resignation letter. And members did not respond to Mueller's comments Monday.

At the meeting, the board decided to invite interested residents to apply for the open position through Oct. 10. The board plans closed meetings to interview the applicants, although such sessions can be held in public.

A final decision is expected at the Oct. 26 board meeting.

Board members can fill out an application online.

Those with questions are urged to call Deb Kedrowski, the board's secretary, at 630-655-6108 or email her.

Levinthal was elected in 2021. Her seat is up for election in April 2025.