Hinsdale D86 Official Criticizes Superiors' Actions

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 came in for some criticism Thursday for changes to one of its programs.

The source was the program's leader.

During public comments at a school board meeting, Matt Swies, coordinator for the Haven Program, said the changes were not equitable for both schools.

According to the district, Haven is a "self-contained therapeutic program for students with emotional disabilities that is designed to provide a positive learning environment."

In March, officials revealed they would stop keeping the program separate next school year. Haven students would be embedded in the two campuses' special education departments, the district said.

Swies said he was told he would be the halftime social worker at Hinsdale Central next year. The rest of the time, he would serve as a social worker at Hinsdale South and a case manager for students attending therapeutic day schools, he said.

When the changes came up at a committee meeting in February, members asked whether students would receive the same level of in-person services at both schools, Swies said. The administration, he said, committed to treating students at both schools equitably.

But Swies said that would not happen under next year's plan. He said he was told the number of Haven students at Central does not justify a full-time social worker, while South does.

"This does not seem like the equitable support the administration committed to providing earlier in the year," he said.

Swies also said the reduction goes against the recommendations of consultants who said each school should have a full-time social worker, among other things.

"I am unaware of any specific plan for how the program will be running, how a single teacher will accommodate the needs of so many diverse learners and simultaneously provide grade-level education in the form of four levels of English, two to three levels of math, a science course and a social communication course without the increased reliance on (online learning)," Swies said.

He said he hoped the school board would seek a greater understanding of the administration's actions.

Officials did not respond to his statement during the meeting.

In response to a Patch inquiry, Alex Mayster, the district's spokesman, said officials are confident they have the appropriate level of staffing in place to support Haven students. The district, he said, can adjust later if it becomes necessary.

"The decision to embed the HAVEN Program within the high schools’ continuum of special education services will enhance HAVEN's overall effectiveness by strengthening therapeutic and behavioral support, improving the access and referral processes, optimizing staffing and oversight, using data to guide decisions, and resolving long-standing structural challenges," Mayster said in an email.