Pull Pritzker Invitation: Hinsdale D86 Official

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member is asking the district to cancel the half-hour assembly at Hinsdale Central High School with Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker as the speaker. (After this story appeared, the governor's office said it never accepted the invitation.)

In a text to Patch, Board member Jeff Waters said that as a resident, he was "beyond disappointed" that Pritzker had been invited.

"It is inappropriate, completely lacking in precedence, and fails to serve the interest of students," Waters said. "At the same time, it drives chaos and distraction to a student body needing nothing but calm and concentration."

His text appeared the same as his statement given during Thursday's board meeting. He did not attend, but had a resident read his message to the board.

On Friday, Patch asked all seven board members and the three incoming members by email for their opinions on inviting Pritzker to speak. Officials said the request for the governor to visit was by the Student Liberal Association. The event is set for the week of May 15.

Only Waters and board President Erik Held responded. Held favored the invitation.

On Wednesday, the terms for Held and members Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson end. Three new board members take office that night, with the new majority expected to be at odds with Superintendent Tammy Prentiss.

At Thursday's board meeting, incoming member Catherine Greenspon said the assembly runs the risk of violating the school code. She also said it could be a logistics issue, with up to 40 percent of students opting out.

With Waters and Greenspon opposed, they would need just two more votes to cancel the assembly. In his statement, Waters suggested the board take action to end the event.

Waters said political figures on either side of the aisle or affiliated with any party should not be inside the high school during the school day, especially for an assembly.

Last year, a student group known as the Conservative Club hosted an event with political figures, but it was required to be after school.

Waters said the district falsely maintains that a precedent exists with DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin speaking to the constitutional law class. He said that is not a precedent.

"I spoke to several families who have had students in that Constitution law class and Berlin only fosters a discussion as it relates to his career as DuPage County state's attorney – the content of his presentation has absolutely no discussion regarding politics, engagement, or civic responsibility," Waters said. "The District (maintains) a false narrative to justify their attempt to champion this inappropriate event."

Some schools are known to have legislators and other political figures speak and take questions during civics classes. Asked if politicians, including governors, should be banned from addressing such classes, Waters declined to say.

"Until this becomes a discussion for the full board or there has been a comprehensive release of other opinions by fellow board members or recently elected board members, I will defer to my statement in its entirety," he said.

Before November's election, Waters donated to the campaign of state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican who lost her bid for re-election.

In his email to Patch, Held said he was speaking as a member, not as the board president.

"I think it is a great opportunity for Hinsdale Central's students to hear directly about civic engagement from Illinois' sitting governor," Held said. "The District's door should always be open to positive interactions, however they are structured, with our elected officials."

He added, "While I understand that some disagree with the Governor's politics or policy stances, it has been repeatedly stated and understood that this is not a partisan rally. I trust it will proceed that way, and hope that members of our community will respect the students enough to not turn an apolitical learning experience into a partisan protest."

He said he hoped Pritzker could also speak to South students this school year or next.

Jeff Waters' statement:

As a community member, I am beyond disappointed that JB Pritzker has been invited to Hinsdale Central for an assembly with students in mid-May.

It is inappropriate, completely lacking in precedence, and fails to serve the interest of students. At the same time, it drives chaos and distraction to a student body needing nothing but calm and concentration.

Political figures on either side of the aisle, or affiliated with any party, have not and should not be inside any D86 high school building during the school day – especially for an assembly. It lacks precedence and to wit, know this:

Last year a student club called The Conservative Club hosted an event with political figures and the club was told it absolutely must be – and was mandated– to occur after school per Administration’s demand. The event thus occurred after school hours.

Regarding this proposed Pritzker event – The District would like to maintain – falsely – that there is precedent given that DuPage County State’s attorney, Bob Berlin, visits Hinsdale Central and he is a Republican elected official.

There is indeed and in fact no precedence. None.

Community outreach clearly illustrates that.

I spoke to several families who have had students in that Constitution law class and Berlin only fosters a discussion as it relates to his career as DuPage County state's attorney – the content of his presentation has absolutely no discussion regarding politics, engagement, or civic responsibility.

The District (maintains) a false narrative to justify their attempt to champion this inappropriate event.

The students are rapidly approaching standardized, testing and final exams, and considering the recent precipitous drops in proficiency and standardized testing at D86, the students should be in the classroom filling those gaps and not in the gymnasium engaged with any political figure on either side of the aisle.

Total Instructional hours are still less than the total amount of instructional hours that prior cohorts enjoyed pre-pandemic.

Where is the equity between the two high schools?

Hinsdale South students have the benefit of not having their school day and thus their instructional time interrupted. Central students do not.

This event is inappropriate, lacks precedence, & fails to serve the students at a time when they need nothing but focus and concentration.

I hope the Board of Education does its job to best serve the students and takes action to eliminate this event from consideration.

Erik Held's statement:

I think it is a great opportunity for Hinsdale Central's students to hear directly about civic engagement from Illinois' sitting governor. The District's door should always be open to positive interactions, however they are structured, with our elected officials.

While I understand that some disagree with the Governor's politics or policy stances, it has been repeatedly stated and understood that this is not a partisan rally. I trust it will proceed that way, and hope that members of our community will respect the students enough to not turn an apolitical learning experience into a partisan protest.

The students who have championed this speaking event should be applauded for, in this instance, planning Governor Pritzker's visit as an all-school assembly, and not limiting such an opportunity to only a few sections of AP Government or Civics.

I hope that a similar speaking engagement with the Governor can be pursued for our students at Hinsdale South, if not this school year then in the fall.

Ideally, we have future requests like this one from student groups: hosting elected officials in a good faith exercise to promote learning about civics, local government, and the possibilities that await them beyond these high school walls.