Ex-Hinsdale D86 Leader Gave 5 Days' Notice

HINSDALE, IL – Linda Yonke, interim superintendent for Hinsdale High School District 86, gave five days' notice before she resigned last month.

On Wednesday, Patch obtained Yonke's resignation letter through a public records request.

It was dated Dec. 18, with her last day Dec. 22. The letter was addressed to board President Catherine Greenspon.

Late the next day, Patch made Yonke's decision public. That was after the district posted its personnel report online as part of a school board meeting agenda. Yonke's resignation was one of the items in the report.

In her resignation letter, Yonke pointed to a provision in her contract that either she or the board could terminate her contract with five days' written notice.

She said she would be willing to work some days in January if necessary for a smooth transition.

"I feel privileged to have worked in Hinsdale Township High School District for the past five months, and I wish only the best for the Board, Administration, and entire staff of District 86," Yonke said.

Yonke and Raymond Lechner were hired as co-interim superintendents in July, following the board's ouster of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

In a Dec. 19 interview, Yonke told Patch, "There are no ill feelings. It's for personal reasons."

Her resignation followed the abrupt departures of two board members, Debbie Levinthal and Kay Gallo, both of whom said they left in frustration.

Before leaving in October, Gallo criticized one of board President Greenspon's emails to Yonke, calling it "condescending" and "outrageous."