Near Perfect Score For Hinsdale D-86 Board

HINSDALE, IL – Say what you want about the Hinsdale High School District 86 board. But it would be hard to criticize members' attendance records.

The new board took office in May 2021. Since then, six of the seven members have shown up at all 24 regular board meetings.

Member Cynthia Hanson, however, missed two sessions last summer, according to the board's minutes. Still, her attendance record is 92 percent.

Other area boards, including the one for Elmhurst School District 205, regularly see absences.

One difference in District 86 is that its board is closely divided. On controversial issues, the four-member majority is typically made up of Erik Held, Kathleen Hirsman, Terri Walker and Cynthia Hanson. Meanwhile, the minority consists of Peggy James, Jeff Waters and Debbie Levinthal.

A shift of one vote can make a difference, which means everyone needs to be at the table at every meeting.

At last week's meeting, the three-member minority walked out early in a dispute over revised minutes of closed meetings. That forced the majority to immediately adjourn.

Under its rules, the board must have a majority of its members physically present to conduct business. Because Held was connected remotely, the board lacked enough members to continue.