Hinsdale D86's High Turnover Decried At Meeting

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's board heard more criticism Tuesday on the continued high turnover in the district's upper ranks.

During the board's public comments, Meeta Patel, a former Hinsdale School District 181 board member, stepped up to read a letter from longtime board critic Yvonne Mayer.

The letter listed a dozen administrators and board members who have left the district or announced their retirements since Catherine Greenspon became the board's president in May 2023.

The officials are Tammy Prentiss, Debbie Levinthal, Kay Gallo, Linda Yonke, Cheryl Moore, Chris Jasculca, Alyssa Barry, Eric Martzolf, Patrick Hardy, Jason Markey, Keith Bockwoldt and Michael Lach.

Later in the meeting, Bockwoldt, the district's chief information officer, objected to the inclusion of his name, saying the board wasn't his reason for leaving.

Mayer's letter noted that two other administrators – Alex Mayster, the communications director, and Lexi Fosco, the director of data – are leaving in June.

Fosco is becoming the head of the math and business department at Orland Park's Carl Sandburg High, while Mayster has not publicly revealed his plans.

Mayer's letter blamed the departures on what she considered Greenspon's micromanagement and public disrespect for administrators.

Mayer also noted that the district has gone through several law firms. Most recently, it hired attorney Gary Grasso, who is also Burr Ridge's mayor, to fight one firm's lawsuit.

She said the board should give the incoming superintendent, Chip Pettit, a chance when he takes the helm July 1. The board can do that by seeking Greenspon's resignation as president, Mayer said.

After reading the letter, Patel added, "There does seem to be autocratic rule on this board."

After Patel stopped speaking, Bockwoldt, who is retiring this year, walked up to the microphone.

"My name has been thrown around as leaving early. I don't read social media. I just heard rumors that I'm leaving because of the board," Bockwoldt said.

He said that when he started in 2019, he told then-Superintendent Bruce Law that he would work for the district four or five years at most. He will end up working seven.

"I'm leaving because it's time to retire. I'm 64 years old now," he said. "We've lost some family members in the last year. It makes you rethink your life. When people use my name in public, they're not speaking for me. I speak for myself."

Audience members applauded, though board members did not weigh in, following their policy on public comments.

Since May 2023, seven people have served in the role of superintendent. Five of them were interim leaders.

When the board interviewed three search firms last October, two mentioned the challenge of turnover, with the winning firm's representative calling it the "elephant in the room."

In an April 2024 statement, District 86 acknowledged turnover was a problem.