Hinsdale 86 Broke Promise To Voters: Resident

HINSDALE, IL — Hinsdale High School District 86 officials are discussing what to do with the old pool building at Hinsdale Central High.

This debate prompted a resident late last month to remind the school board of a reversal on its pre-referendum promise on the district's pools.

The April 2019 referendum for school projects was rejected twice before, so the board trimmed pool-related expenses. That's because the district received feedback that the pools were not a priority for voters.

"We were told South and Central's pools would be the same six lanes, nothing fancy," Burr Ridge resident Betsy Levy said in a written comment to the board. "While voters approved a six-lane pool relocated, Central now has a brand-new, state-of-the-art, 40-yard gleaming natatorium. So much for pools being a low priority."

Both Central's and South's pools were originally set to be six lanes, 25 yards long. South's pool, which is to be built this next year, is staying at six lanes, but will be extended to 40 yards as well.

In September 2019, five months after the referendum, District 86 issued a statement to the community acknowledging the school board's reversal. The district called it a "departure from what was discussed in the months leading up to the April referendum."

"We also understand that it might raise questions about the impact it may have on the other projects we have planned, or the money we have allocated to pay for them," the statement said.

The district said it changed its plans because experts advised the best short- and long-term solution would be to build pools that are not only aligned to enrollment, but also better equipped for school needs.

With its reversal, the district said it would meet its goal of staying within the $140 million budget of the referendum, including all the projects advertised as part of the package.

"This commitment has not and will not change based on the increased estimate for the pools," the district said. "We will not fund these two projects at the expense of the students, staff or programs at either school."

The district said it would look for ways to cut costs. For instance, it said it could save $1.2 million on the pool project at Central by moving mechanical equipment to the roof and reducing the size of the storage space and equipment room.

The new Central pool is set to open by August. Late last month, the board approved the spending for refurbishing the old pool building.