No Firing Of Hinsdale D-86 Leader Over Controversy: Proposal

HINSDALE, IL – It's almost a certainty that Hinsdale High School District 86's superintendent will face a hostile board after the April election.

So the school board's majority on Thursday is set to approve a couple of changes to her contract that would protect her.

The smaller change is extending her contract by another month – to July 31, 2024, which is when she apparently plans to retire.

The larger one involves last year's controversy over the withdrawal of an anti-racist consultant from consideration for a District 86 contract.

At a board meeting last January, Prentiss read a letter from consultant Valda Valbrun, who called Hinsdale "dangerous." Prentiss is believed to have coordinated with Valbrun in presenting the message. Many called for Prentiss' firing as a result.

According to the proposed contract language, the board authorized an independent investigation into Prentiss' alleged involvement with the letter.

After reviewing the findings in the Aug. 5 report, the board concluded there was no cause to fire Prentiss, the proposed language says.

If approved, the board would be barred under the contract from using the investigation's findings as grounds for Prentiss' firing.

Prentiss could not be reached for immediate comment Tuesday evening.

If past votes are an indication, members Erik Held, Kathleen Hirsman, Cynthia Hanson and Terri Walker are likely to approve the contract's amendments.

Members Debbie Levinthal, Jeff Waters and Peggy James are expected to be against them.

Three of the seven seats are up in the April 4 election. They are held by Hirsman, Held and Hanson, who all decided against running again.

Of the five candidates running, three have called for Prentiss' ouster. Even if just one of them gets elected, that would form a 4-3 majority against Prentiss.