'Oversight' Possible With Hinsdale D86 Policy: Ex-Official

HINSDALE, IL – A former Hinsdale High School District 86 board member says it was never the board's intention to charge foreign exchange students for tuition.

At last week's board meeting, residents complained that $30,000 in tuition is making it difficult to bring in students.

Earlier this week, former board President Erik Held, who became a member in 2019, said his research shows that the policy change may have happened in 2020 or possibly before.

"But I firmly believe that no members back then, during the subsequent years I was on the board, or in the last 2 years, would have knowingly approved a policy change that charges $30,000 to foreign exchange students," he said.

The change would require just one word, adding "not" before "required to pay tuition."

"I wonder if during that difficult and confusing time of early COVID, something must have happened: accident, error, oversight, incorrect draft provided by (the state school boards association). Who can say?" Held said.

At last week's meeting, members Asma Akhras and Baron Leacock asked the board to review the issue. A board committee took up the matter Monday.

Most high schools in the area do not charge.