Hinsdale D86 Delays Coach Picks After Debate

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board threw a curveball to administrators last week for what is traditionally a routine item on the appointment of coaches.

Instead, board members engaged in a 35-minute discussion on whether they should approve the coaches and stipends, saying they wanted the entire list of coaches and their pay.

Board member Heather Kartsounes was the first to raise concerns, saying the approval of coaches comes "piecemeal." Other board members agreed.

"We haven't approved the budget yet," Kartsounes said. "It kind of seems we're putting the cart before the horse."

She also noted the uncertainty of the boys gymnastics program. It is subject to proposed budget cuts, which team members' parents oppose.

Josh Stephenson, the district's chief financial officer, said approval of the coaches was no different from any other personnel hire. At the same meeting, the board approved new employees without any discussion.

"You hire positions all the time before the budget is approved," Stephenson said.

Last month, the board's finance committee looked at the tentative budget.

Board members suggested delaying voting on the item. But Hinsdale Central Principal Bill Walsh and other administrators pushed back on that idea. They said some sports were starting camps before the board's next meeting on June 13.

Board member Terri Walker asked Walsh whether he could confirm that a delay would not affect any summer camps.

He replied, "At this moment in time, I cannot confirm anything."

He added the community expects the camps and that they are a way to build programs.

At one point, board President Catherine Greenspon asked for the date that the finance committee reviewed the tentative budget.

When Stephenson paused to check his records, Greenspon laughed and said, "C'mon, Josh."

Board members said they did not want to disrupt any camps before the June 13 meeting. Yet they and administrators struggled to figure out which ones had camps before then.

Debra Kedrowski, the district's administrative chief of staff, came to the rescue. She suggested the board vote to only approve the coaches with camps starting before the June 13 meeting, with the principals determining which ones they are.

Stephenson advised the board to approve the separation of the existing coaches to allow the new coaches to assume their roles. That way, he said, "you don't have two people in the same position simultaneously."

"C'mon, Josh," Greenspon said, smiling.

The board voted unanimously to approve the separations and appointments of coaches in sports with camps starting before the next meeting.