D-86 Official's Spouse Takes Board To Task

Darien IL

25 February, 2022

10:23 AM

Description

DARIEN, IL — Hinsdale High School District 86 is handling the governing of itself and its communications among members poorly, a resident told the board Thursday. This person was hardly the first to take the board to task. But the source of the criticism was different. It was Hinsdale resident Gregory Walker, husband of board President Terri Walker. During public comments, Walker mentioned in passing the "Valbrun situation." That was in reference to North Carolina-based anti-racism consultant Valda Valbrun. She withdrew from consideration last month for a contract with District 86, calling Hinsdale "dangerous" for hateful messages that she said she received. Gregory Walker, however, had a different take on Hinsdale and surrounding towns. "My wife and I have found our communities to be embracing, supportive and familiar, but like all communities, there can be slivers of darkness," he said. Gregory Walker, a board member at the Hinsdale Swim Club, said he was recently speaking with a fellow member about common ground approaches to issues like masking, diversity, inclusion, equity and the consultant situation. He said he would give a handout to board members that showed 13 of 15 areas in which board members are poorly handling the governing of themselves and communicating with each other. "I want to vehemently express that anything I express does not reflect on my wife, and if it did, she would kill me. I have no intention of sleeping outside," he said to laughs. He also urged everyone to check out the Instagram page about Hinsdale students. The page documents students' negative experiences related to their status as people of color.