The District 86 Policy Committee met Tuesday, Aug. 18, in its first session since the school year opened Aug. 12, taking up how Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South handle immigration enforcement on campus, revising rules on religion and controversial topics in classrooms, and overhauling the district's public-records procedures.
The three-member committee, Board President Catherine Greenspon, Baron Leacock and Jeff Waters, convened at 4:30 p.m. at the District Administrative Center on South Grant Street. Minutes and formal decisions from the meeting have not yet been published.
Immigration protections get teeth
The committee reviewed updated administrative procedures and staff training for Policy 7:150, which the board first revised in December 2025 in anticipation of Illinois House Bill 3247 taking effect.
That law, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in August 2025 and effective January 2026, bars Illinois public schools from collecting or disclosing a student's or parent's citizenship or immigration status unless required by federal law. It also prohibits schools from allowing an immigration agent onto campus without valid identification, a written statement of purpose and a judicial warrant approved, where possible, by the superintendent and legal counsel.
Since July 1, 2026, schools that violate those protections can be sued in civil court for actual damages.
The stakes sharpened after the Trump administration rescinded a longstanding "sensitive locations" policy in January 2025 that had limited immigration enforcement near schools and child care centers, according to the Chicago Tribune.
For families at Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South, the practical question is whether staff now know exactly what to do if an immigration agent arrives at the front office. Tuesday's agenda item focused on that training, with Superintendent Dr. Chip Pettit's administration working alongside legal counsel to develop the procedures.
Religion, prayer and opt-out rights in the classroom
The committee also reviewed proposed revisions to three curriculum-related policies (6:70, 6:80 and 7:130) on teaching about religions and controversial issues. The updates respond to U.S. Department of Education guidance issued Feb. 5, interpreting two Supreme Court rulings:
- Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022), which held that a high school football coach's post-game prayer was protected under the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses.
- Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), which held that a school "burdens the religious exercise of parents" when it requires children to attend instruction that poses a "very real threat" to their family's religious beliefs.
The federal guidance states that, in the Department's view, public school employees may engage in visible personal prayer even while students are present. The Mahmoud ruling also strengthens parents' right to opt children out of instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs, though it does not impose a nationwide curriculum ban.
The exact language changes to D86's three draft policies had not been publicly posted as of Aug. 19.
FOIA procedures and what comes next
The committee revisited district-specific FOIA procedures and log practices that were deferred earlier this spring after the board updated Policy 2:250 to comply with changes in the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. A 2027 FOIA operational calendar was also on the agenda.
The full board's next regular meeting has not been publicly scheduled, though a budget public hearing is set for September. Residents can track agendas and minutes at hinsdale86.org.
Hinsdale Education Week Ahead
- Budget public hearing — September 2026 (exact date TBD), District 86. The board will hold a public hearing on the FY 2027 budget approved in tentative form June 25. Public comment expected; check hinsdale86.org for the confirmed date and sign-up details.
- Policy Committee minutes — Once published, the Aug. 18 meeting minutes will be posted to the District 86 BoardDocs portal. Watch for action items advancing to the full board.
