'Deeply Offended': D-86 Official Asked Not To Vote

Darien IL

11 February, 2022

8:34 AM

Description

DARIEN, IL — A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member asked a colleague Thursday to abstain from a vote on the mask mandate because she has never had children in the district. The request was made before an audience of nearly 200, mostly made up of mandate opponents. Waters opposed the rule, while Hirsman backed it. During the board's debate, the crowd repeatedly interrupted and jeered mask mandate supporters. Hirsman resisted the opposition. "I was elected to this board seven years ago to serve this entire community, but I'm not going to be cowered by a mob," she said, prompting heckling. She said she took issue with Waters saying he only represented those in attendance. She said she had received emails with different views. Waters said the board cannot pay attention to emails because the messages don't represent the entire district. Then he made a request. "Board member Hirsman, I will ask you to abstain from voting because during the referendum on two different occasions, you chose not to opine because you had no children in the district," Waters said. He later said she has never had children in the district. The audience applauded Waters. Board member Cynthia Hanson objected, saying she did not know how Waters could ask a sitting board member not to vote. Hirsman said she was "deeply offended" by Waters' comment. Waters repeated his argument, to cheers and calls for Hirsman's resignation. But one person said, "C'mon, guys, be respectful." Hirsman concluded by saying, "I am not going to let the noise in this community deter from doing what I think is right for the majority of people in this community." A woman shouted, "What about the kids?" The board voted 5-2 to keep the mask mandate. Last fall, Waters declined to answer Patch's question about 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 board President Terri Walker.