Hinsdale D86 Settles For $80K With Family

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board earlier this month voted for settling with a family for up to $80,000.

The board's vote was unanimous, but members revealed nothing about the agreement.

Patch obtained the agreement through a public records request, with much of the information redacted.

The district is legally allowed to keep under wraps any personally identifying information about the student. It is unclear whether the district blacked out more information than the law permits.

The agreement requires the student's parents to submit invoices for reimbursement within two months.

The pact also mandates that both sides keep the agreement's terms secret. However, the district is allowed to release the document under the Freedom of Information Act.

The district appeared to black out information about whether it was settling a particular complaint or lawsuit. The redactions also seemed to leave out what the district was reimbursing for, other than lawyer's fees.

In 2023, the district was more open when it released its settlement with the family of a Hinsdale South basketball player. The document contained fewer redactions.

Since then, the district has hired a new law firm, Evergreen-based Odelson, which may influence what is released.

Lyons Township High School also disclosed more information about its $140,000 settlement with a student's family in 2022.