Board postpones staffing vote after debate over Transition Center costs

The Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education voted 7–0 on March 26 to postpone action on the district’s FY‑27 certified staffing recommendation until a special meeting at 6 p.m. April 6.

The decision followed an extended discussion about the cost to operate the district’s transition center and how different accounting methods produce very different per‑pupil figures. Administration and trustees cited three commonly used views: a site‑based expenditure figure reported on the state report card of roughly $89,000 per transition‑center student; a district direct‑cost view in the $60,000–$65,000 range; and a lower $50,000–$55,000 figure after backing out certain outside grants and reimbursements.

"All three numbers are accurate — they’re just different views," said Josh Stevenson, the district’s finance officer, explaining the state’s site‑based expenditure methodology allocates districtwide overhead to school sites and that reimbursements from IDEA, PEC and special‑education transportation lower the net local cost. "So for the site‑based expenditure report, that is a state‑prescribed methodology for allocating all expenditures the district incurred… That’s why the number can look like $89,000."

Trustees said the upward trajectory in transition‑center spending over recent years is the main concern, regardless of which per‑pupil calculation one favors. "Whether it’s $89,000 or $50,000, there’s been a significant increase," one trustee said, urging administration to pursue efficiency while protecting services.

Board members and administrators also discussed how reimbursements are applied. Stevenson said special‑education transportation reimbursement has fallen in recent years and that PEC grant receipts are trending lower than budgeted, which could reduce future offsets.

Members repeatedly emphasized the need to give affected staff the courtesy of reviewing contracts and to finalize FTE counts and transition‑center analyses before approving any reductions. Administration told the board it had identified a recommended reduction of roughly 7.3 FTE and that at least one additional FTE reduction remained under review.

"So 89,000 is just 89,000 no matter what," Chair Greenspan said during the debate, underscoring that the district must be transparent about the publicly reported figure and its implications for taxpayers and families.

Because the board must act on staffing by April 15, trustees set April 6 for a special meeting to receive updated analyses and return decisions in a single, comprehensive action. At the March 26 meeting the motion to postpone carried unanimously by roll call.

What’s next: Administration will continue the transition‑center cost analysis, complete final FTE calculations and provide updated staffing materials at the April 6 special meeting. The board’s posted agenda indicated the staffing actions would be considered then and that affected staff would receive an opportunity to review contract language before any vote.