Hinsdale High School District 86 Board
Among other business July 21, board members:
• listened to the district’s attorney, Steven Richart, discuss the determination by Illinois Attorney General Office’s Public Access Counselor that the board improperly took final action on an adaptive pause at a meeting last year. Maryam Judar of the Citizen Advocacy Center asked the PAC to review the board’s informal vote during its Nov. 19, 2020, meeting on Superintendent Tammy Prentiss’ proposal to take an adaptive pause, though the matter was not on the meeting agenda. “The board’s vote to reject the adaptive pause was a final action taken without proper notice on the agenda,” stated the PAC ruling. Richart said he disagreed with the PACs interpretation of “final action” because Prentiss had authority to institute a pause with or without board consent. The ruling did not require the district to take further action, Richart said, but he recommended the board remain mindful of itemizing its agenda items and identifying whether the board will take action.
• were told that, per the current guidance from the CDC and IDPH, wearing face coverings in district buildings during the 2021-22 school year will be optional for everyone, but strongly encouraged for those who are not vaccinated. However, face coverings will have to be worn by everyone when they are riding on a school bus. District 86 will return to in-person instruction on a full-time basis for all students. Mitigation protocols will be maintained regarding ventilation, hand hygiene, cleaning buildings and social distancing of three feet.
• rescinded the temporary rules for board meetings established last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules allowed board members to attend board meetings and committee meetings remotely. It also provided for board meetings to be live-streamed, and enabled the public to submit public comments at meetings remotely, whether orally or in writing.
