Law Firm Continued To Bill Hinsdale D86

HINSDALE, IL – A Chicago-based law firm continued to bill Hinsdale High School District 86 even after it accomplished its apparent mission – help the board oust Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

On June 26, the board voted for a severance agreement with Prentiss, in which she would leave and collect her pay over most of the next school year.

That would seem to have been the end of Robbins Schwartz's service to the district. By June 30, the firm billed the district $56,187.

But it turns out the firm charged the district another $17,357 in July. This information was included in the school board's packet for its meeting Monday.

It is unclear why the firm's billings continued. Now, its charges total $73,544.

On Sept. 18, the board voted 5-2 to hire Robbins Schwartz again to start an investigation related to a 6-day-old "message with parent concerns," which the district declines to divulge.

The district is now seeking proposals from law firms interested in representing it.

For years, Itasca-based Hodges Loizzi has been District 86's main law firm. But the firm may be seen as too close to Prentiss.

On Monday, Patch emailed an inquiry to the district about Robbins Schwartz's July charges.