You'll See Less Of Hinsdale D86 Board

HINSDALE, IL – The board for Hinsdale High School District 86 is prepared to meet less often.

On Thursday, board members generally agreed to hold meetings once a month for most of the year. When there is more business in the fall and spring, the board may meet twice.

Also, the seven-member board wants to do away with July meetings.

Board President Catherine Greenspon proposed the changes just days after the board welcomed four new members.

She asked Superintendent Michael Lach, who started in July, for his thoughts.

He was supportive.

"I love seeing you all the time, but meetings are a lot of work for us to put together," Lach said. "There may be months around the program of studies and around staffing where we need more time, but I think generally we can get by with one meeting a month."

New member Bobby Fischer agreed. He said the district has more stability now.

"We have a leadership team that is running the show in a more rigorous way," Fischer said. "It makes sense to me to cut back, but I just hope as issues arise, we all have a willingness to do those special meetings, so we don't fall behind in meeting student needs."

Board member Liz Mitha suggested the board get its meeting materials more than two days ahead of time under the new arrangement.

The board plans to formally vote on the meeting schedule later this month.

A few years ago, the Elmhurst School District 205 board ended its practice of meeting twice a month. It makes exceptions.

In Illinois, school board members are unpaid.

Also at Thursday's meeting, Greenspon announced committee assignments for board members. She gave committee chairmanships regardless of whether members voted for her as president.