Official Notes Central-South Gap, But Dismisses Possible Solution

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's top official on Thursday recognized the disparity in course offerings between Central and South high schools.

But he seemingly dismissed one of the potential solutions.

During a presentation at a school board meeting, Superintendent Michael Lach acknowledged that South, as the smaller school, naturally has a smaller selection of courses. That has been the case for years.

The district, he said, could offer additional lower enrollment courses at South as a way to equalize offerings. But he noted that would come at a cost.

One longtime solution suggested in the South zone has been to change the boundary between the two schools, equalizing enrollments.

However, such an idea is considered a no-go in the wealthier Central area, with residents near the boundary fearing their property values would plunge if the line shifted.

Lach, who took the helm in July, mentioned the possibility of a boundary change. But he just as quickly labeled such a move "challenging," without explaining.

He noted the district has spent the last five years promoting "curriculum equity," which means offering the same courses at both schools. The initiative was later rebranded as "curriculum alignment."

It has come with controversies over courses in math, science and social studies.

In his presentation, Lach said course opportunities at the two schools are not the same, but he said plenty of opportunities exist at both schools.

At the same time, Lach said other issues keep him up at night.

While he said the district should be proud of its standardized test scores, plenty of students are not college- or career-ready by graduation.

"That concerns me," Lach said. "To what degree should the focus be on improving postsecondary readiness for our students? Priorities matter. We can do anything, but we cannot do everything."

He said the district should figure out its priorities.

The board voted Thursday to form a special committee to look at the disparity in course offerings and ways to address it. Members Abed Rahman, Asma Akhras and Jeff Waters agreed to join.