D86 Digest: Fractured Board Finds Agreement on Some Issues

While a recent Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education meeting at Hinsdale Central High School was , board members did find unanimity on several agenda items, including some that will reduce district expenses or increase revenue.

The first was the approval of the sale of surplus textbooks and novels to Follett Virtual Bookstore, which will pay the district $171,000 for them.

“The revenue generated from the surplus property will be budgeted and received in the FY 2012 budget,” District Business Manager Jeff Eagan told the board at the Monday, July 18 meeting.

The board also unanimously approved renewing a contract with Quest Food Management Services, Inc. of Lombard to oversee food service at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South, as it has for the past three years. The agreement provides for a guaranteed profit to the district of $80,000 for food service.

“Have we been satisfied with Quest?” Board President Dennis Brennan asked.

“We have,” Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Wahl answered succinctly.

Board Member Kay Gallo asked if the contract contained a provision for offering sandwiches after school to students involved in extra-curricular activities. Wahl said that was not part of the contract.

The third cost-saving move board members expressed support for was the awarding of a three-year contract to Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers for athletic training services at Central and South.

Accelerated offered a low bid of $75,000 to provide the services for the next two years and $78,500 in the third year of the contract. The other bidder was AthletiCo, which proposed $90,000 per year for each year of the contract.

“Accelerated is the district’s current athletic trainer service vendor and has maintained a good relationship with each of the athletic directors’ offices,” Eagan noted.

This was the first time the district has opened the contract for bids.

“It’s an example of competition helping us,” Wahl said, observing that the current contract with Accelerated is for $100,000 per year.

“Maybe we learned a lesson here that we should go out for bids in almost every area,” Board Member Dr. Richard Skoda said.

“Over the last six years, Dr. Skoda, we pretty much have,” Wahl said.

The board is expected to approve the contract at its next meeting, scheduled for August 1.

Extra-curricular participation remains level

District Director of Human Resources Troy Courtney presented the board with a brief report on participation by students in extra-curricular activities.

“This year, we haven’t seen an increase in the number participating,” Courtney told the board. “Last year, we had a big year.”

The 2009-2010 school year saw a five percent increase in student participation in activities and athletics.

Board Member Dianne Barrett questioned what she called an inequity in the number of extra-curricular staff contracts for music programs versus athletics. She said the ration of directors for band and jazz music programs to students was one to 100, compared with six to 68 for the football program.

“I would like to see if we could provide more than one, possibly two or three directors and assistant directors for band and jazz programs,” she said. “I think we ought to put more focus in our music and drama programs.”

Wahl said he would review the matter with the principals at each school.