'Not Interested In Looking Foolish': D-86 Recordings Debated

HINSDALE, IL – During the pandemic, Hinsdale High School District 86 started recording many of its committee meetings.

But that has since stopped.

Now, some board members are pushing to return to the practice. Doing so, they say, would increase openness.

Members Jeff Waters, Debbie Levinthal and Peggy James advocated for recordings.

Board President Erik Held said he could get on board with recording certain committees such as facilities and finance, particularly because of the district's $140 million in referendum projects.

But he said he feared recording all meetings would hamper the hashing out of ideas.

"While they are public meetings and people can come to attend, oftentimes, there is a lot of sausage being made," he said. "I think it's different when you have a camera on, even when other people are in the room."

Cheryl Moore, assistant superintendent of human resources, said she would be more reserved if the district recorded committee meetings.

"Maybe I want to bring up an idea that's not fully vetted, but I want to talk about it," Moore said. "I don't want to look foolish in front of a camera later on if somebody clips it and says, 'Look at what the superintendent of human resources is talking about.'"

She said she would approach committee meetings more conservatively and scripted if they are on video.

"I'm not interested in looking foolish," she said.

The board reached no decision on whether to record committee meetings.

Over the summer, Elmhurst School District 205 board members agreed to end the recording of its committee meetings. That policy includes the finance committee, where spirited debates have taken place over how to spend $168 million in referendum projects.