Protests As Hinsdale D86 Changes Prentiss Pact

HINSDALE, IL – A majority of Hinsdale High School District 86's board changed the superintendent's contract Thursday as the audience shouted objections.

A dissenting board member predicted damaged legacies for his colleagues who approved the changes to Superintendent Tammy Prentiss' agreement.

And all but one of the nine speakers during the first public comment period urged the board to reject the adjustments.

When the supporters of the amended contract spoke, audience members interrupted. That prompted the board president to warn that security was present.

With a 4-3 vote, Prentiss' contract was extended by one month, to July 31, 2024.

The other change shields Prentiss from getting fired over the investigation into last year's controversy involving anti-racist consultant Valda Valbrun. Prentiss' handling of that matter sparked a movement to fire her.

The board's vote fell along its usual lines on controversial issues. The majority of board President Erik Held and members Kathleen Hirsman, Cynthia Hanson and Terri Walker supported the amendments. Held, Hirsman and Hanson are not running again in the April 4 election.

On the other side were members Jeff Waters, Peggy James and Debbie Levinthal.

With the election, it's likely that a new board will oppose Prentiss as superintendent.

During the debate, Hanson said the extension was needed because the district rushed the past two superintendent searches, with superintendents giving little notice.

She and the other supporters did not say why one month made a difference. They also did not explain the need for the provision protecting Prentiss from termination in the Valbrun matter.

Waters noted the election was 67 days away. He said it was clear the new board may differ from the current one on Prentiss.

The contract changes, he said, were a "clear and transparent attempt to protect the superintendent and tie any board's hands, including this one and a future one."

Waters added the changes were inappropriate and would hurt the legacy of the departing board members.

Held replied, "Just because there's an election doesn't mean we stop doing our job."

A woman in the audience shouted, "Stop lying!"

Standing up from her chair, Hirsman said she stood by the legacy of the action that the board would take.

"I take full responsibility for it, and I'm proud of it," she said.

Audience members interrupted her.

"Let me speak. You're being very rude," Hirsman said. "There is a small minority in this room who disagrees with our decision. I represent the district."

"Do you?" a woman asked.

Held said the board would not tolerate disruptions. He warned security could escort people out. No one was.

Hirsman continued, "For anyone to cast doubts on my legacy, I am not going to be cowed by what other people have to say. My legacy stands for what it is."

She said she would not let other board members and the audience intimidate her by suggesting she has personal liability for making a decision that she said was the right one.

When the vote was taken, James said, "Emphatic no."

Before he voted, Waters said the agreement was essentially a "bridge to retirement" for the superintendent.

Tammy Prentiss, superintendent of Hinsdale High School District 86, did not speak about the changes to her contract during Thursday's board meeting. (David Giuliani/Patch)

"I would consider that an extension of patience and grace," he said. "Those two things, in my estimation, only my own, have not been extended to the district by the collective body of work by the superintendent. The district simply deserves a better return on its investment."

After the vote, a man could be heard saying, "Surprise, surprise."

The contract's new language states Prentiss would retire upon her departure.

During public comment, residents said Prentiss needed the extra month in the contract because that's what she needed to retire. That would allow her to avoid getting another education job to meet the pension requirement, they said.

When Patch asked Prentiss afterward about that, she declined to say.

Residents also noted nearly 2,300 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for the superintendent's ouster. Three of the five school board candidates also oppose Prentiss.

The movement was prompted by the controversy surrounding Valbrun, the anti-racist consultant.

At a board meeting last January, Prentiss read a letter from Valbrun, who called Hinsdale "dangerous." Valbrun withdrew from consideration as a consultant. Many believe Prentiss coordinated with Valbrun in presenting the message.

According to the contract's amendment, the board authorized an "independent" investigation into the superintendent's handling of the Valbrun issue. After reviewing the findings, the board concluded it had no cause to fire Prentiss, the amendment said.

Prentiss was hired as superintendent in 2019. For five years before that, she was the district's assistant superintendent for student services.

Prentiss attended the meeting, but did not speak about the contract.