A Hinsdale D-86 Official's Go-To Move?

Darien IL

20 September, 2021

12:50 PM

Description

DARIEN, IL — Illinois law allows public bodies to close their doors in limited circumstances. In the last month, though, Hinsdale High School District 86 board member Jeff Waters has sought closed sessions twice. The first time, his colleagues doubted whether they could legally hold such a session. And in the second instance, the board split in favor of closing its doors. The session lasted just 13 minutes, despite some thinking it may drag on for two hours. At a meeting in late August, Waters expressed concerns about the plans for Hinsdale Central High School's homecoming court. This was in response to emails from parents in the hours before the meeting. He said he didn't want to discuss the details of the issue in public. But other board members questioned whether they could hold such a meeting under the state Open Meetings Act. Under that law, the board could hold a closed session to talk about specific students and employees, but not general issues for an event such as homecoming. After Waters got an explanation about homecoming, he no longer pressed for a closed session. At last week's board meeting, board members approved the termination of contracts with consultants after one of the consultants sent a tweet that was perceived as anti-police. In the discussion, Waters said he had questions about how the district chose the consultants in the first place. He said he would rather ask them in closed session. At the end of the meeting, Waters proposed a closed session, winning a 4-3 board majority. He said the justification was to discuss specific personnel, which is allowed under the Open Meetings Act. It was unclear which personnel Waters wanted to discuss. The board is generally barred under the law from discussion of contracts and consultants behind closed doors. Waters declined to comment on the closed session issue, referring questions to board President Terri Walker. In Patch's past calls to Waters, he has declined to comment, pointing to a policy that says the board president is the official spokesperson for the board. Board members Erik Held, Kathleen Hirsman and Cynthia Hanson have not returned Patch's messages, perhaps for the same reason. Recently, Waters declined to answer whether his child was attending Hinsdale Central, which is in the area where he lives, or a private high school. He referred the question to Walker. Under the First Amendment, the board policy cannot restrict Waters' right to free speech.