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Parents and residents press District 86 board on bullying, board conduct during public comment
Summary
Several residents used public comment at the May 28 board meeting to press the district on alleged ongoing bullying at Hinsdale Central and to criticize recent board conduct around selection of the board president; the board did not take direct action during the public comment period.
Speakers at the May 28 Hinsdale Township High School District 86 meeting used the public-comment period to raise concerns about student safety and the board’s handling of community input.
Susan Spiieri told the board the district’s administrative bullying policy (policy 7180, "Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment") protects perpetrators and fails to provide meaningful punitive or therapeutic interventions. She said her autistic son was the target of repeated violent incidents in spring 2023 and that she will share correspondence and social-media evidence with the district and community. "The administrative policies... actually protect the perpetrators of bullying and in fact encourage recidivism and retaliation," she said during her three-minute comment.
Emily Golding, who identified herself as a resident and parent of future D86 students, criticized remarks by board members at a prior meeting that she said disparaged community members who submitted emails about board leadership. She said nearly 70 community members had asked the board to select a new president, and she objected to comments by Member Waters and Member Fischer that implied some submissions were fraudulent. "Member Waters’s and Member Fischer’s comments about myself and other community members fall far below those standards," she said.
Warren Ali also spoke in support of the district, praising recent community events and teacher recognition ceremonies and encouraging continued community engagement.
What the board did: Board policy allowed public comment but board members do not engage the public during the comment period, and the board took no immediate policy action in response to the remarks. The meeting proceeded to the superintendent’s report and later agenda items.
Context and next steps: Susan Spiieri asked the board to address the bullying policy and to pursue meaningful interventions and transparency; she said she will provide supporting correspondence and social-media material in coming months. The board did not announce an immediate review or change to policy 7180 at the meeting.
