Ex-Official Denounces Hinsdale D86's Nvidia Decision In Complaint

HINSDALE, IL – A former Hinsdale High School District 86 board member has filed a complaint with the state, alleging the school board violated the law with its AI effort.

In January, the board informally approved the creation of a "working group" to develop a partnership with tech giant Nvidia.

In a March 10 complaint to the attorney general, former board member Kay Gallo asserted that the board broke the Open Meetings Act by failing to alert the public that it would take action on the issue.

On Friday, the attorney general decided "further action is warranted," meaning it will investigate. District officials did not return a message for comment left early Monday morning.

For the board's Jan. 29 meeting, a discussion item called "Nvidia Pilot Program" was on the agenda.

Board President Catherine Greenspon had two Nvidia executives speak to the board by video. Then she went around the table to poll board members on the formation of the working group to explore using Nvidia's product, StudyFetch.

Board members approved the idea. No formal vote was taken.

In her complaint, Gallo said the board must alert the public that it is taking action on an issue.

"The actions to create a 'working group' and engage with a single commercial vendor were taken with no prior notice to the community, and seemingly also without notice to the superintendent and administration," Gallo wrote.

She also said the board broke with its past practice of issuing a request for proposals or bids to multiple vendors.

At the Feb. 24 meeting, Greenspon informally polled the board to assign incoming Superintendent Chip Pettit, who takes the helm July 1, to start working before then on AI issues.

Such a decision involves the expenditure of public money. Under a transition services agreement, Pettit, who is still an Indiana superintendent, is paid $1,267 a day for transition work.

Greenspon said she expected the AI work to include a Nvidia pilot program.

In her complaint, Gallo said Pettit's assignment constitutes "new work," which she said was not allowed under his transition services agreement with the board.

The agreement said Pettit's work shall be for an "effective transition" and "structured to facilitate the Superintendent's understanding of District operations and future objectives."

Gallo asked the attorney general to order the board to correct its actions.

"It is abundantly clear that the unlawful formation of the Nvidia 'working group' (on Jan. 29) had, and will continue to have, a far-reaching impact for the district," Gallo said.

Gallo served on the board from 2009 to 2017 and for about six months in 2023 before resigning in criticism of Greenspon's leadership.

Greenspon, Gallo and others were elected in 2023 after calling for new district leadership.

Shortly after being elected, the board met behind closed doors to suspend then-Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

Patch filed a complaint, alleging the board violated the Open Meetings Act by taking the action in closed session. A year later, the attorney general sided with Patch.

In Illinois, governing bodies must vote in open meetings. The board has never revealed the tally of the closed-door vote on Prentiss.