Group Plans To Endorse In Hinsdale D-86 Election

HINSDALE, IL – A longtime group that endorses candidates for the Hinsdale High School District 86 board is getting back into action.

The election is next April.

Earlier this month, Stuart Hanson, husband of school board member Cynthia Hanson, emailed Superintendent Tammy Prentiss about using space in District 86 for the D86 Caucus to hold meetings.

Prentiss forwarded the email to Bill Walsh, Hinsdale Central High's principal.

In an email to Patch, Lana Johnson, co-chairman of the caucus, said District 86 denied the request for space because the group has no insurance.

In an email, Chris Jasculca, the district's spokesman, told Patch the high schools received no formal request from D86 Caucus – verbal or written – for use of their buildings. Such requests are typically submitted to the district's online scheduling system, he said.

"If a member of the caucus cited insurance as a possible reason, the organization may have stopped the process when prompted by the system to provide a certificate of insurance, which is standard procedure when a new group is seeking to reserve space in our buildings," Jasculca said.

In an interview, Stuart Hanson said he stepped away from his role in the caucus, given his wife serves on the school board.

In response to a Patch inquiry, Cynthia Hanson recognized the work of D86 Caucus.

"From what I know, the D86 caucus has a long history in the district, always with a focus on bringing the D86 community together," she said. "I understand it takes quite some effort to coordinate the launch and find those who are able to commit their valuable volunteer time and energy to the process. Stuart offered his time to assist in connecting people, and I believe there are now two co-chairs. He has no involvement in the D86 caucus moving forward."

Johnson said the caucus has continued off and on since 1976.

"We are starting later than normal, but we have a timeline that can be achieved," she said. "Our mission is to identify and vet potential Board of Education member candidates for Caucus endorsement. We do not remain involved past the endorsement phase."

The caucus is nonpartisan and is recruiting delegates from all seven feeder school districts, Johnson said.

Already, the election has drawn two announced candidates, former school board President Kay Gallo and Catherine Greenspon.