Hinsdale D86 Mum On Closed Meeting Reason

HINSDALE, IL – Board members for Hinsdale High School District 86 appear to have unfinished business, but they're not giving a clue on what it is.

On Tuesday, the board posted an agenda for a closed meeting on Thursday night. That's just four days before a majority of the board's seven members leave office.

Departing from its practice that lasted until early 2024, the board listed no exceptions on the agenda under which it can legally close the doors under the Open Meetings Act.

The agenda simply says, "Adjourn to Closed Session for discussion under the exceptions cited." The agenda includes no items for action.

The Open Meetings Act does not require public bodies to list exceptions for closed meetings on their agendas. In practice, most do.

Before the board goes into closed session, it must give an exception.

On Tuesday, Patch left emailed messages with all seven board members about the reason for the closed session. No one responded.

The members are President Catherine Greenspon, Peggy James, Asma Akhras, Heather Kartsounes, Abed Rahman, Terri Walker and Jeff Waters.

The district's spokesman, Alex Mayster, told Patch that the exception would be stated at the meeting.

James, Kartsounes, Rahman and Walker are leaving the board Monday. New members Bobby Fischer, Baron Leacock, Liz Mitha and Mary Satchwell are taking office.

The closed meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the district's central office at 5500 S. Grant St. in Hinsdale. The public has an opportunity to comment beforehand.