Haven program coordinator raises equity concerns after district assigns half‑time social worker at Hinsdale Central

Matt Swise, coordinator for the Haven program, told the Board of Education of Hinsdale Township High School District 86 on May 8 that planned staffing for the 2025–26 school year would provide only a half‑time social worker at Hinsdale Central while Hinsdale South would receive a full‑time social worker.

"It appears that for the start of next school year, the students at Haven Central only have access to their social worker on a part time basis, which is not the best practice and does not adequately meet their needs," Swise said during public comment at the Committee of the Whole meeting held at Hinsdale Central Library.

Swise said he had been told by Superintendent Michael Locke (referred to in his remarks as Dr. Smith when discussing an earlier conversation) that the number of students at Central does not support a full social worker. He said that when staff presented the plan to the finance committee in February, the administration had committed to ensuring equitable instruction and support across both sites.

"The reduction also goes against the recommendations of the consultants that reviewed the Haven program earlier in the school year. In the report, the consultants recommended 1 full time social worker, teacher, and pair professional per classroom," Swise said.

Swise described his own assigned workload for next year as divided across roles: 0.5 social worker at Hinsdale Central, 0.3 social worker at Hinsdale South and 0.2 case manager for students attending therapeutic day schools. He told the board he was unaware of a specific operational plan for how a single teacher and reduced staff would meet a range of instructional levels and social‑emotional needs.

The remarks occurred during the public‑comment portion of the meeting; the board did not take formal action on the staffing question during the meeting. The transcript shows Swise requested the board "seek out more thorough understanding of why some of the decisions have been made by administration and to ensure that students in Haven at both buildings continue to receive an appropriate and equitable level of support."

Board members did not respond with a policy vote at the meeting; the superintendent and other administrators remain the responsible parties for staffing assignments and will appear in future agenda packets if the board schedules related items for committee or action.

Background: The Haven program serves students placed in therapeutic or alternative educational settings. Swise said consultants who reviewed the program earlier in the year recommended one full‑time social worker, teacher and paraprofessional per classroom; he cited that recommendation in urging the board to revisit the district's planned allocations.

Next steps: Swise asked the board to seek more complete explanations from administration; the board had other organizational business on the agenda and did not schedule immediate action on the comment.