'No Plot' In Hinsdale D-86 Controversy: Leader

HINSDALE, IL – A top Hinsdale High School District 86 official responded Tuesday to the controversy that led to the walkout of three board members during last week's meeting.

Members Peggy James, Debbie Levinthal and Jeff Waters left the meeting in a dispute over closed session minutes.

Earlier in the meeting, James told her colleagues that board President Erik Held heavily edited three sets of February closed session minutes that she had drafted.

James, who was the board's secretary at the time, said Held materially changed the content, but she said he never consulted her before he recently distributed the edited version to board members.

The three members walked out of the meeting after Held asked for separate votes on the minutes, rather than as part of a package of other items.

In an interview Tuesday, Held appeared to want to move past the controversy.

"Her minutes deserved the respect of a vote," Held said. "That's what it boiled down to."

He declined to comment on how he would have voted on James' minutes.

But he said his edited version of the minutes are "dead," unless James preferred some of the changes. He said he had "zero intention" of continuing to pursue his edits.

"I want to respect the work that she did," Held said.

He said that "no plot" existed to have the board majority reject James' minutes and then replace them with his.

"I have full confidence that our board will continue to do the business of the district," Held said. "We are unified in our goal of making the best educational experience possible in District 86."

The board was forced to adjourn last week after the walkout because a majority of the seven members must be present in person. With Held connected remotely, only three were left.

James told Patch she planned to attend a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, but declined to further discuss the dispute over the minutes. The minutes under consideration at last week's meeting were James' version, she said.

Thursday's meeting is at the district's central office, 5500 S. Grant St.

The agenda includes two items from last week's meeting, but they were not voted upon because of the unexpected adjournment.

James' meeting minutes are not on Thursday's agenda.