District 181 families have one more chance to hear from school leaders before the first day of class. The Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at Hinsdale Middle School, 100 S. Garfield Ave., for what is the last scheduled public session before students return Wednesday, Aug. 19.
The draft agenda, published by The Hinsdalean on Aug. 6, lists four items: a facilities update, end-of-year budget highlights, new staff approvals and a "D181 collaboration" item whose details have not been made public.
No dollar figures for the budget highlights or names of incoming hires have been released. The full agenda packet had not been posted to the district's website, d181.org, as of Thursday.
What to watch
District 181 serves students across Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Burr Ridge in seven elementary buildings and two middle schools. The facilities update and budget items have not been detailed publicly, so Monday's meeting is the first chance for parents and taxpayers to see what the district spent over the summer and what capital needs remain heading into the new year.
The district is also reviewing its cellphone policies at Hinsdale Middle School and Clarendon Hills Middle School after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a "bell-to-bell" ban for K-8 schools on July 28. District 181 already requires phones to be collected in elementary schools and stored in lockers at the middle schools. Communications director Karen O'Connor told the Chicago Tribune on July 31 that the district "will review the new law, the forthcoming ISBE guidance, and our current policies and practices to determine whether changes are necessary." The Illinois State Board of Education is expected to issue model policy guidance by Sept. 1.
Hinsdale government week ahead
Monday, Aug. 10 — District 181 Board of Education 7 p.m., Hinsdale Middle School, 100 S. Garfield Ave. Key items: facilities update, end-of-year budget highlights, new staff. Public comment is available; check d181.org for sign-up details.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 — Village Board of Trustees 7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave. The big-ticket item: trustees will vote on a lead water service line replacement policy that will determine how much homeowners pay toward mandated pipe replacements. Federal and state rules require Hinsdale to replace an estimated 300 lead lines between 2027 and 2037, at roughly $20,000 per home, or about $6 million total, according to Patch and The Hinsdalean. Village President Greg Hart has signaled support for a cost-sharing model rather than placing the full burden on homeowners. Residents may speak during the Citizens' Petitions portion of the agenda.
Trustees in June approved a water rate increase that adds about $242 per year for an average family of three. The lead-line vote will layer on top of that cost for the roughly 300 affected households.
