Hinsdale D86 Board Presses Superintendent On Faster Action

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 board members on Thursday pushed the superintendent for quicker action on drafting a list of goals and ways to achieve them.

Superintendent Michael Lach, who started last July, proposed that the board come back to him at its August meeting with feedback on "where we need to go" and "how we can get there." This is reaching the district's "north star," Lach said.

He proposed a timeline from August to January to get the work done.

But board president Catherine Greenspon and other members said that wasn't fast enough.

"If we wait until August, we're going to be spinning our wheels because, quite literally, we're missing another year," Greenspon said. "I'm not trying to rush the work. But if we could provide some feedback and direction right now, it would be great."

Board member Asma Akhras said she was concerned that Lach was looking at tapping into what other districts are doing.

"You've had a whole year," she said. "You have a lot of information gathered, and I really wanted to have a little more direction on what you thought this was."

Akhras described it as a "come-to-Jesus" moment.

"I'm a little uncomfortable with the timeline. I think it needs to be sooner," she said.

Akhras and others suggested a consultant to help with the work.

Like Akhras, Waters expressed frustration. He said he was happy to get a consultant, but he noted that Lach has been at the helm for a year.

"I'm tired of waiting to start moving," Water said. "Frankly, Mike, that's your responsibility, yes, to certainly collaborate with the board, but it's not the board's decision."

He added, "I'm a little confused and, frankly, a little frustrated it's taking so long."

Greenspon said she understood Waters.

"Our process right now is not organized," she said. "We're spinning our wheels. There are lots of words. A consultant is going to help us get organized."

Lach said he was happy "to build this out much faster."

"We can do it with a lot of help," he said. "But I think these are tough decisions. I think we need to lean in and decide how much input we want from our community members and our teachers, and we shouldn't just try to rush them."

The board generally agreed to hire a consultant.