Work On Hinsdale D86 Equality Stalled

HINSDALE, IL – A top official for Hinsdale High School District 86 indicated last month that the work toward equalizing course opportunities between the two campuses is stalled.

This has been the case since a board majority in October rejected the faculty's recommendation for course changes in the social studies department, prompting the teachers union's condemnation.

Since 2019, the school board has worked to align the course offerings at Central and South high schools.

For years, the wealthier and larger Central has boasted a greater course selection.

Since a new board majority took power in May, the alignment project has come under greater question.

This is yet another challenge for a district that, in the space of eight months, saw the ouster of a superintendent, the departure of an interim superintendent, the exits of two frustrated board members and a pair of controversies involving basketball programs.

For years, social studies teachers worked on changes to their programs. And they revised their initial proposal after board members' objections.

At last month's meeting of the board's Academic Committee, Jason Markey, assistant superintendent for academics, said the rejection impacted alignment work.

Careful in his wording, Markey said he instructed social studies teachers to hold off on aligning courses until the board gives more direction.

"I don't want to send them on a path where they're continuing to revise curriculum and we're not sure of what direction there will be," Markey said. "Other departments are looking at the same thing and wondering about the outcome."

He continued, "The more clarity we can have on that to reaffirm the work we're in the midst of would be beneficial."

Board President Catherine Greenspon said she wanted the Academic Committee's consensus on alignment before the board acts on it.

"If we don't have consensus at the board committee level, it will be a mistake to push it up to the general board," Greenspon said.

Besides Greenspon, the committee members are Asma Akhras and Abed Rahman.

Greenspon noted the divisions over alignment in the past few years. Besides social studies, the board aligned science and math offerings but reversed some of its actions later.

"We need to be very clear on direction to Jason and his team because we don't want to repeat what has happened," Greenspon said. "As long as I can remember, where (teachers and administrators) go in one direction, the board changes direction and then they have to go in another direction. It does not serve the students or the district."

The committee said it hoped to further address alignment later this month.

Twice over the last couple of months, board member Terri Walker has publicly called for her colleagues to take action on aligning social studies courses. She was in the minority that supported the teachers' proposal.