Dear District 86 Family, 

We have spoken at length over the past 20 months about the strength and resilience of our community. We have expressed our admiration for the perseverance, persistence and dogged determination you have exhibited throughout the pandemic. We have also talked about how we have been inspired by your toughness and tenacity in the face of tremendous adversity. 

However, what we said in March 2020 when all of this began remains true to this day. Our top priority has been and will continue to be the physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. That is why we have listened intently over the past few weeks as an increasing number of you have approached us about the struggles you have experienced since the start of the school year. It is why we have sought to learn more about the pressure and anxiety that you have felt as you have tried to assimilate back into a life you have not known for nearly two years. It is also why we have joined a number of our fellow districts in exploring ways to alleviate the stress that is threatening the very health and well-being we have committed ourselves to protect.

With all of this in mind, the administration is recommending and board of education is anticipated to approve the conversion of Monday, Nov. 22, and Tuesday, Nov. 23, to days off for all District 86 students and employees so that everyone has the entire week of Thanksgiving break (Nov. 22-26) to rest, relax and recharge. 

While the official vote will not take place until the board meeting on Nov. 18, we wanted to share this news with you today so that you have more time to plan and prepare for the additional days off. 

So, what does this mean for the members of our district community?

  • Students, you will have no required academic expectations or responsibilities on these days. You will not need to attend classes or engage in asynchronous learning. You will also not receive any new assignments. We encourage you to use this time to engage in self-care, reconnect with friends and family, catch up on missing work, etc. If you are participating in a sport, your coaches will let you know what changes, if any, this decision will have on your games or practice schedules. If you qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, the buildings will provide you with information about how your needs will continue to be met. 

  • Faculty and staff, these will be paid days off that will not impact your existing balances for vacation, personal time, etc. You will not need to report to work or be expected to engage in any school- or district-related activities. Similar to our students, we encourage you to use this time to take a well-deserved break. Those employees who must be on-site during these days for operational reasons (i.e., buildings and grounds staff and security personnel) will receive floating holidays that can be used at a later time. 

  • Since the number of instructional days in our schedule (180) already exceeds what is required by the state (176), these two days will not need to be made up at the end of the school year. 

It is our sincere hope that these two days will provide a brief respite from the pressures and demands that we and districts from across the country have experienced the past few months. We also understand and appreciate that more can and must be done to alleviate the stress and anxiety that everyone in education has been feeling during this challenging time. We are currently discussing ways we can accomplish this important goal, and will keep you updated on the status of our efforts. 

In closing, please remember that there are a multitude of resources available if you or someone you know needs help. They include the partnership we have with ReferralGPS and the links we have posted on the websites for Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South. We also have amazing counselors, social workers and support staff in our HR department who can connect you with additional services or support if you need them. 

If you have any questions about this decision or its impact on our students, faculty and staff, please contact Superintendent Prentiss at tprentis@hinsdale86.org. In the meantime, we want to thank you for your time and attention to this message. We also want to wish you a safe and restful Thanksgiving holiday. 

Sincerely,
Terri Walker
District 86 Board President
Tammy Prentiss
Superintendent