Hinsdale D86 Behind Schedule On Picking Superintendent

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 had hoped to hire a new superintendent this week, with the person to start July 1.

But that's apparently not happening yet.

At a December school board meeting, members said they planned to vote on a superintendent at this Thursday's regular board meeting. This follows closed meetings to interview superintendent finalists in December and early January.

The idea was for the board to reach a consensus on a preferred candidate behind closed doors and then make an offer.

Superintendent Michael Lach is retiring at the end of June, a year before his three-year contract expires.

On Friday, the board released its meeting agenda for Thursday, and the agenda includes no items for the superintendent's position. The board has until Tuesday to add the issue.

In response to a Patch inquiry Monday, the board's president, Catherine Greenspon, said the district had nothing to share at this time.

The board is already behind in appointing a superintendent compared to two years ago. On Jan. 10, 2024, the board picked Lach as superintendent, who started that July.

In some states, school boards are required to publicly release superintendent finalists' names. In Illinois, boards have a choice. District 86 joins most districts in keeping such information secret.

In the last 2½ years, the district has seen much turnover in its administration. In that time, seven people have served in the role of superintendent. Five of them were interim leaders.

When the board interviewed three superintendent search firms in October, two mentioned the challenge of turnover, with one calling the issue the "elephant in the room."

As the board waits to appoint, the pool of superintendent candidates is expected to dwindle. Most administrators make career changes on July 1.