Candidate Pressed On Central-South Disparity

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 board member is taking issue with a candidate's stance that Hinsdale South gets the short end of the stick.

Recently, board member Jeff Waters, who is running unopposed for a two-year term in Tuesday's election, publicly asked candidate Liz Mitha on Facebook how she could feel that such an imbalance exists.

"The district places great emphasis on maximizing opportunities for all students. Please explain," Waters said on the Facebook page titled "D86 Strong."

He attached a Patch story from last November that included Mitha's announcement of her candidacy.

Mitha is running against five other candidates for four board positions. She is the only one from the Hinsdale South zone.

In the story, Patch referred to Mitha's comments at board meetings that indicated she believed South gets the short end of the stick.

For years, the larger Hinsdale Central, which has a wealthier student body, has offered a greater course election than South.

In 2023 comments, Mitha, a Cass District 63 board member, said South students shouldn't be penalized because the board has decided to keep Central's enrollment twice as large as South's.

"Students at South are 11 times more likely to have a course denied," she said, citing the district's data.

Last year, Mitha took exception to a petition read at a previous board meeting by Central area residents that said the two schools were "very different" and that discouraged completely equalizing course offerings.

Mitha said the petition insinuated that South's students were less intelligent and capable than their Central peers.

Despite his Facebook post, Waters, along with other board members, appears to acknowledge a disparity exists.

At a board meeting earlier this month, Waters said it was unfair to use the minimum of 15 students for a class to run at Hinsdale South, saying it should be half that number because of the school's smaller size.

"When I see these numbers close to 15 but not exactly 15, I'm happy to run them," said Waters, who lives in the Central zone. "South should have an adjustment downward for that low enrollment number."

In response to Waters on Facebook, Mitha said the best outcomes for students depend on teamwork, even when "you absolutely don't want to work with someone or disagree with their perspective."

"If I am fortunate enough to be elected, I will be on the D86 Board of Education with you in May – on the same team," Mitha said. "You often say, 'Leaders lead.' It’s abundantly clear that you do not want me elected, but if I am, I know I’m prepared to work respectfully with everyone at the table as peers and colleagues."

In another post, Mitha said she opposed changing the attendance boundary between Central and South. Such an adjustment, she said, would be disruptive to families.

On that issue, Waters and Mitha agree, as do all the other candidates. However, some South residents call for shifting the line to equalize enrollments.

The idea is seen as politically toxic. Residents on the Central side fear their home values would plunge if their properties shifted to the South zone.

For this election, Waters has endorsed three of Mitha's opponents, Baron Leacock, Bobby Fischer and Andrew Catton.

Mitha is running as a team with Mary Satchwell. The other candidate is Warren Ali.

In a statement to Patch on Thursday, Mitha said providing course opportunities is not a zero-sum issue.

"(T)he district can and should maximize course opportunities for students at both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South," she said. "Data shared in recent (school board) meetings tells us we can do more to offer and run courses at both campuses, but more so at South for a multitude of reasons. "

Mitha said she was looking forward to the data analysis and insights from a new district committee designed to look into the issue of course opportunities.

Patch left a message for comment with Waters.