Publications & Sites 
Hinsdale District 86 instructs website to change its name
Updated: November 12, 2012 6:07AM
HINSDALE — The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board has instructed the operators of the website, www.hinsdalehighschools.com, to stop using that name because members say it suggests the website and the school district are connected.
School Board President Dennis Brennan on Oct. 1 sent a letter via email to the operators of the website stating if they “refuse to cease and desist from using the www.hinsdalehighschools.com domain name,” the school district may file a lawsuit seeking money damages, reimbursement for attorney’s fees and a court order requiring the website operators to transfer their domain name to the school district.
The School Board voted 5-2 at its Sept. 24 meeting to send a cease and desist notification, which was not yet written at that point. Board members Richard Skoda and Dianne Barrett voted against the move because it could lead to a lawsuit that would cost the district money.
“Is this board prepared at a later date to basically take legal action?” Barrett asked. “And if you are, you’re basically setting yourself up to spend money that is an unnecessary expense.”
Brennan said he believes the anonymous operators of the website will change the site’s name and website address. If they do not, the School Board will discuss what their next step will be.
“The Board wouldd have to have a future discussion about that,” Brennan said.
In the last School Board election, the website was used by three candidates, one of whom was Skoda. At a recent board meeting, however, Skoda said he does not write for the website, which often is critical of decisions of the District 86 School Board and administrators. A notice on the website reads it’s not associated with any political organization.~.
