Tuesday, May 21, 2013
As in 2009-2010, Tom Paulsen and Frank Kesman will be serving together for the 2013-2014 school year as a replacement is sought for former principal Michael McGrory.
District 86 has confirmed the two new interim co-principals who will preside over the 2013-2014 school year while a replacement is sought for outgoing principal Michael McGrory, and it's the same two who presided over an identical situation three years ago. Tom Paulsen and Frank Kesman were confirmed for the positions by a unanimous District 86 Board of Education earlier this week. Both served as interim co-principals of Hinsdale Central during the 2009-2010 school year. “We believe the join appointment of Mr. Kesman and Mr. Paulsen as Interim Principals for Hinsdale Central High School allows the building to maintain its current level of academic excellence and student opportunities as we conduct a national search for a permanent …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Hollywood funny man Matt Walsh was one of two inductees in 2012.
The following is a release from Hinsdale Township High School District 86: The Hinsdale South High School Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 2013 Hall of Fame induction. The Hinsdale South Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and retired staff that have honored the high school by distinguishing themselves through career achievements, outstanding community service, and significant contributions to the Hinsdale South community. “The Hall of Fame is a wonderful opportunity to recognize former students and staff of exemplary character that have carried out Hinsdale South’s vision of excellence in their careers, their communities, and in society at large,” Hinsdale South Principal Brian Waterman said. “We are excited to continue this …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
More than $370,000 in main hallway improvements at both schools could be deferred if the board goes with the recommendation of its facilities committee.
The District 86 Board of Education’s facilities committee recommended after a three-hour meeting Thursday that the board direct administration to rebid several previously approved summer projects and defer others to future years, board member and facilities committee chairman Ed Corcoran said. Among the items that the committee wants to defer is $372,000 in main hallway renovations at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South that would include new lighting, flooring, and paint. “Those projects are being recommended to be deferred until we are able to review the cost for doing that on a campus-wide basis,” said Corcoran, who serves on the committee along with Michael Kuhn and Richard Skoda. Corcoran, an engineer who was elected to the board in …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Patch looks back at five of the most read stories from the week of May 6 to May 10.
1. Victor Casini Takes Over as District 86's Board President: The man who was picked to replace Dennis Brennan as board president Monday night said efficiency is one of his top priorities and that he's not a "one-issue board member" defined by last year's Hinsdale South movie controversy. 2. Newsweek High School Rankings Map: Hinsdale South at No. 389: The magazine's 2013 report out this week recognizes several Illinois schools. 3. Outgoing Dianne Barrett: Majority Control of D86 Information 'Not Acceptable': Barrett attended her last District 86 board meeting as a member Monday night at Hinsdale Central, and had some words of advice for her successors. 4. Heather Fields Subdivision Considering Security Cameras: The Burr Ridge neighborhood…
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Barrett attended her last District 86 board meeting as a member Monday night at Hinsdale Central, and had some words of advice for her successors.
Dianne Barrett’s favorite experiences as a District 86 board member were her talks with dedicated Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South parents about their kids. “I was all ears to the parents who had issues and wanted to see them heard,” the board member who has waged a long legal fight against the district over access to records said during her final board meeting Monday night at Hinsdale Central. Barrett, who served two four-year terms and chose not to run for re-election this spring, addressed the audience about her hopes for the new board after she was honored along with fellow outgoing board member Dennis Brennan and DeeDee Gorgol. Barrett said she hopes board members who often vote as part of a minority will not be denied information …
Monday, May 6, 2013
The man who was picked to replace Dennis Brennan as board president Monday night said efficiency is one of his top priorities and that he's not a "one-issue board member" defined by last year's Hinsdale South movie controversy.
The new District 86 Board of Education took its first actions Monday night and among them was the appointment of a new board president. Victor Casini was elected by a unanimous board vote to take over the body’s leading role that for the last six years has been filled by Dennis Brennan, whose four-year term ended Monday night along with those of DeeDee Gorgol and Dianne Barrett. Casini, a Hinsdale South parent and Burr Ridge resident, is among the three new board members elected along with incumbent Kay Gallo on April 9. The attorney and former Gower School District 62 board member said he does not see himself as above the other six board members, and one of his main goals as president will be to make board meetings more efficient. “I like…
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
District 86's general contractor said the low number of subcontractors bidding on several summer-improvement packages is actually due to a construction market on the rise and a corresponding lack of desire by firms to take on small-scope projects.
The District 86 Board of Education approved the summer construction bids recommended by its general contractor last week despite two board members being unhappy with two one-bid packages and a request from a future board member to postpone the vote until the new board is seated. Board members voted 5-2 on April 22 to approve the selected subcontractors, who are expected to carry out about $1.1 million in construction work the board budgeted for this summer, including main hall renovations at both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South, a new girls locker room at South, and new exhaust fans at Central. Dianne Barrett and Richard Skoda casted the “no” votes. Both dissenters said receiving only one bid on two of the eight packages—electrical …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Freshman orientation will take place on the Tuesday before, with two teacher institute days in between, according to the calendar approved Monday by the District 86 school board.
The first days of the District 86 school year will go differently this August than they have in years’ past. The District 86 Board of Education approved by a 6-1 vote Monday a 2013-14 calendar that schedules freshman orientation on a Tuesday and the first full instructional day the following Friday in order to preserve the orientation day while keeping semesters balanced and complying with a new state statute. According to next year’s calendar, which got the support of all board members except Richard Skoda, freshmen will come in for orientation on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 20. Two teacher institute days will then take place on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, before the entire student body comes in for the first full day of instruction on Friday, …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
After serving as Hinsdale Central's principal for three years, Michael McGrory will leave District 86 at the end of June.
Hinsdale Central Principal Michael McGrory is leaving District 86, according to Superintendent Nick Wahl. McGrory, who has been Hinsdale Central's principal for the last three years, has accepted the position of principal at Muscatine High School in Iowa, McGrory's home state, and his last day of work in Hinsdale will be June 30. "We want to thank Mr. McGrory for his three years of service to the Hinsdale Central school community, and wish the best to him and his family in their move back to Iowa," Wahl wrote in a letter to the community. McGrory was quoted in the letter as saying the decision was a difficult one and that working at Hinsdale Central has been a "privilege and great administrative experience." "However, I knew going back to…
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The school ranks 8th among Illinois high schools and 289th nationally, according to the annual list published by U.S. News and World Report.
Hinsdale Central High School in District 86 is among the best in state, according to annual rankings published Tuesday by U.S. News and World Report. Hinsdale Central ranked 8th out of 667 public high schools in Illinois. Hinsdale South was unranked. The 2013 U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools rankings are based on data collected from more than 21,000 public U.S. high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia. The rankings are designed to capture how well high schools educate all of their students and prepare them for college-level work, a press release from U.S. News said. Schools are evaluated based on overall student performance on state assessments, Advanced Placement tests and International Baccalaureate exams. The…
Ed Corcoran
12:21 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Sue - this project and others need further review and we have no information on what this project costs if the entire school was remodeled in this manner. There should be no panic and all measures of prudence and review should be undertaken to protect both students and taxpayers. The Remodeling project is much more than painting - it is new flooring, locker painting and maintenance, new lighting… more ›