South Legal Feud: Hinsdale D86 Answers Question

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 on Friday indirectly responded to a newspaper report that the school board decided to let a student back on Hinsdale South's varsity basketball team.

On Monday, six days after student Brendan Savage's mother sued the district, he was allowed back on the team.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the school board decided to let Savage join the team. The board held a closed meeting Monday night.

Earlier this week, top district officials did not respond to inquiries about whether the Sun-Times reporting was correct.

After Patch contacted the school's spokesman, Chris Jasculca, Friday, he responded, "We are not at liberty to disclose what was discussed in closed session. However, what we can share is that the board of education does not make decisions or take action regarding the selection of students for the district’s athletic teams."

Under the state's open meetings law, the board can make no decisions outside an open meeting. And the board must inform the public about the business that it plans to vote on.

It's also highly unusual for a board to select a student for a team, which many would consider micromanagement.

The Savage family's lawyer said he was informed about the decision by the district's attorney after the board meeting.

In May, the school board may have violated state law when it decided behind closed doors to suspend the superintendent and name an interim replacement.