Hinsdale Central Lunchtime Idea Rejected

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board last week rejected the administration's idea to give course credit for students who need extra help in math and English during their lunch periods.

At Thursday's board meeting, Superintendent Michael Lach pitched a year-long pilot program at Hinsdale Central. In the pilot, students would get a quarter credit each semester for lunchtime "interventions."

He said officials hoped the credit would drive more students to take part during lunch. On student transcripts, the course would either appear as "Literacy Lab" or "Algebra Lab," with students getting either a P for passing or NC for no credit.

But board members feared the transcript designations would hurt students' ability to get into college. And they said it was late for such a change for next school year, which starts Wednesday.

"Having this on the transcript will raise red flags and concerns during the college application process," member Liz Mitha, who was absent, said in a letter read by fellow member Mary Satchwell.

She recommended the administration give all students a study hall or "intervention block" at the start of lunchtime. That would help reduce the negative stigma of receiving the extra help, she said.

Board President Catherine Greenspon said the proposal was "late in the game" and that communicating with parents at the 11th hour would be challenging.

She said she liked such interventions, but added that various versions in the last few years at Central and South have not worked. While the district has data on the number of students on the schedule for such extra help, she wanted to know how many actually attended.

Other board members also criticized the proposal.

Greenspon said the administration had the board's clear direction, prompting Lach to reply, "Got it."

Greenspon continued, "For whatever reason, I feel like I need to say this at the table: We're not agreeing to any credit associated with this lunchtime intervention time."

She asked board members individually whether that was correct. Each said yes.

The board took no formal vote.