Hinsdale D86 Officials 'Completely' Disagree On Course Opportunity Idea

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 board members like a new idea that they say would provide students with more course opportunities.

But the administration appears to be resisting it.

The proposal is to alternate particular courses between Central and South high schools each semester or year. Such a schedule would be clearly laid out in the district's program of studies, so parents and students can plan their four-year journeys, board members said.

Members said this would be in contrast to the status quo, where the district unexpectedly decides against running advertised courses because of low demand.

At Thursday's school board meeting, members saw a plan for this year's program of studies that excluded the idea of alternating courses.

Asked about that, Superintendent Michael Lach explained that the administration did not know what the effect would be on all the district's other courses. He said officials want to avoid making too many dramatic changes all at once to figure out the impact.

Lach also said students often choose courses based on word of mouth. If a course doesn't run for a year, that word of mouth would be squelched, he said. One administrator, he said, called the alternating schedule the "death knell" for those courses.

Board President Catherine Greenspon said she disagreed "completely," saying Lach's explanation did not make sense. A clear explanation in the program of studies, she said, would keep students and parents in the loop.

"Whereas now, for example, with AP Music Theory, we never know whether it's going to run at Central or South, so that will squelch interest in the course," Greenspon said.

Board member Bobby Fischer said he agreed with Greenspon philosophically. But he said the district is down on administrators, likely referring to the vacancy in the position of assistant superintendent for academics.

"I do want to see us push as far as we can," he said. "Mike, the more we can push, the better."

Fischer acknowledged that the idea of alternating courses had a drawback.

"In some of the cases, we may regret it. There may be 11 kids that sign up for AP Music Theory, and we're stuck running it with low enrollment," Fischer said. "But at least we're providing the opportunities that we as a board meant to provide to everybody."

Greenspon concluded the discussion.

"I know that the administration doesn't want to do this because you talked about it (in a committee meeting), but the board is asking you to look at it, please," she said.