Hinsdale Districts Differ Over Math Plan

HINSDALE, IL — A plan to change the way math is taught in Hinsdale Central and South high schools is drawing a major opponent — an elementary district that feeds into the high school district.

On Thursday, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board is expected to hear about a proposal for an "integrated math" curriculum. Such a plan would mean that algebra, geometry and statistics would be woven into classes called Math 1, Math 2 and Math 3.

Traditionally, schools separate classes into Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2, in that order.

Over the summer, District 181, which serves elementary and middle school students in Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, informed District 86 that it opposed the integrated plan. And it requested District 86 not use District 181 employee names or the district's name in public documents implying District 181 was in support.

In an email to Patch, District 181 Assistant Superintendent Kathleen Robinson said her name and another District 181 employee's name were included in a slide that was presented at a committee meeting in July. They were listed as middle school team members for the alignment of their math curriculum.

At last week's District 181 board meeting, members were told that District 86's plan was "concerning" because it could affect District 181 students' readiness to start high school. Members were also told the district had not seen evidence showing the curriculum improved test scores.

However, a frequently-asked-questions section on District 86's website says that the vast majority of countries other than the United States use the integrated approach and most of them perform better on achievement tests. The United States, District 86 notes, ranks 36th in the world in math.

Last week, District 86 Superintendent Tammy Prentiss defended the integrated math proposal.

"(W)e will not allow the perceived issues or challenges of another district's decision to be projected upon or direct the work we do or choices we make on behalf of our learners," Prentiss said in an email to the District 181 board.

Prentiss, who took the helm in 2019, said many residents send comments to the district about its national reputation and tradition of excellence.

"However, often in the same breath, they rattle off the names of all the other districts we should be following," Prentiss said.

She said that while the district should learn from its peers, "we should not lose sight" that the district's good reputation is thanks to its faculty and staff.

"I would like to think that their qualifications and credentials have earned them the respect and trust of this community when it comes to making decisions that they believe are best for our students," Prentiss said.

The board is expected to take action on the math plan at its Oct. 29 meeting, a district spokesman said. If that is the case, Thursday's meeting would be the last chance for residents to speak during public comment about the proposed curriculum before the vote. Last month, board President Kevin Camden became upset with public comment and moved such feedback to the end of meetings, after decisions are made.

Late last year, the district faced a storm of opposition when it proposed to change its science curriculum. A couple of weeks after the board approved the plan, Prentiss publicly apologized for the administrative team's "ineffective job" in communicating the changes.