Hinsdale D-86 Projects Managed Well: Official

Darien IL

06 June, 2022

10:40 AM

Description

DARIEN, IL – The next phase of Hinsdale High School District 86's building projects are costing more than expected. But Josh Stephenson, the district's chief financial officer, objected when the overages were referred to as "cost overruns" at a school board meeting last week. That term, he said, implies mismanagement. In 2019, District 86 voters approved going into debt by $140 million for building projects. "The construction team as a whole has done a good job in managing the referendum," Stephenson said. The higher costs are due to "global factors more than anything else," Stephenson said. He was referring to inflation, supply chain issues and labor shortages. Such factors have affected construction in many places. For instance, Elmhurst School District 205 is dealing with similar issues with its referendum projects. Stephenson spoke at the meeting as the board was considering moving $2.7 million from its main account to the one for the projects this summer. Next summer's projects, he said, may see similar cost hikes. "It will be a difficult market to bid in this fall," Stephenson said. During a public hearing on the money transfer, resident Kim Notaro questioned why so much money was available in the main account when she said special education wasn't fully staffed at Hinsdale Central High. "It would have gone a long way to close some gaps for kids," she said. Stephenson said the district wasn't holding open positions to make sure money was available for the added costs. He said the district tried to fill the openings. Districts in many places have struggled to find teacher's aides over the last year. The board voted 6-1 for the transfer of money. Board member Jeff Waters cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he wanted to encourage "fiscal prudence." Member Peggy James explained her vote. "We have been put in kind of a difficult position by the prior board," James said. "And I believe this is probably the best solution that we have for the situation we're faced with."