Hinsdale D86 Official Who Called Out Law Firm Runs Again

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member who was the first official to publicly question escalating legal bills is running for another term.

Elected in 2021, Terri Walker filed her paperwork for the April 1 election, the DuPage County clerk's office confirmed late Thursday morning.

She is among the candidates for the four four-year seats. The others are Mary Satchwell, Bobby Fischer, Liz Mitha, Andrew Catton, Bobby Fischer and Warren Ali.

Incumbent Jeff Waters is seeking the two-year seat.

Another incumbent, Abed Rahman, who was appointed last year, said he would not run. It is unclear whether Peggy James and Heather Kartsounes, another appointee, are seeking re-election.

In 2021, Walker ran as a team with Debbie Levinthal, calling for changes to the math and science curriculums. They both won, with Walker serving as board president in her first year.

While Levinthal allied herself with the newly elected Waters and James, Walker moved toward the holdover members, making up a majority. The majority backed Superintendent Tammy Prentiss, while the minority did not.

In Walker's second year, District 86, like many school systems, endured emotional meetings over mask mandates. And Prentiss took heat from the community over her handling of anti-racist consultants.

The board holdovers, including then-President Erik Held, decided against running again in 2023. That brought a majority for ousting Prentiss. Less than two months later, the board struck a deal, with Prentiss leaving in exchange for another year's $277,000 salary and health insurance.

Over the next year, the district witnessed a rotating cast of five interim superintendents. During that time, the teachers union called for board President Catherine Greenspon's departure.

Teachers were particularly upset over the board's rejection of proposed social studies changes, which Walker favored.

In July, with legal bills skyrocketing, Walker publicly expressed concern at a meeting. At the time, other members, including Waters and Kartsounes, downplayed the issue.

It appeared Walker was ahead of the others. In early September, the district's law firm, Robbins Schwartz, terminated its relationship, saying the district was "unreasonably difficult."

Late last month, the board voted against paying the firm's $132,000 bill for August.