Schools
Hinsdale D86 Secrecy May End With Anti-Racist Inquiry
A new board majority means the district may unveil a report of the investigation into the handling of an anti-racist consultant.
HINSDALE, IL – The previous majority on the Hinsdale High School District 86 board wanted to keep secret the report on the investigation of Superintendent Tammy Prentiss' handling of an anti-racist consultant.
The new majority may decide differently.
On Wednesday, three new members took office. Two of them, Kay Gallo and Catherine Greenspon, are on record favoring the report's release. Greenspon was elected board president.
Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In January, the district denied Patch's request for the attorney-drafted report. The district said the school board had not waived the secrecy of attorney-client communications in the Prentiss matter.
That same month, the board majority took the unusual step of amending Prentiss' contract to shield her from getting fired based on the report of the investigation.
Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
At a board meeting in January 2022, Prentiss read a letter from anti-racist consultant Valda Valbrun, who called Hinsdale "dangerous." Valbrun withdrew from consideration as a consultant. Many believe Prentiss coordinated with Valbrun in presenting the message.
Prentiss' handling of the consultant sparked a movement against her, including a petition launched by Gallo calling for the superintendent's ouster.
When the board considered the contract amendment, member Debbie Levinthal twice asked then-board President Erik Held to read into the record the provision shielding Prentiss from being fired.
Held declined to read the three sentences, saying he was following legal advice. If Held publicly referred to the report, the district would be forced to release it. A provision of the Freedom of Information Act states that a government entity must release a document if it is publicly cited by the head of the public body.
The request by Levinthal indicated she may have wanted the report released publicly. With the new board, at least five of the seven members have expressed concerns with the superintendent.
Because the majority changed, Patch filed a new request for the report Thursday.
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