BOE Meeting Summary: 06.05.23
June 5, 2023
5. Call to Order - Public Session (7:15 pm)
5.1 Roll Call
5.2 Pledge of Allegiance
6. Recognitions
6.1 Student Recognitions
Oswego East High School students who competed at the Business Professionals of America National Conference. BPA has a strong history as a student organization that contributes to the preparation of global professionals through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills for students.
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Tyler Boecker, junior - National Merit Scholar and 7th Place in Business Law and Ethics
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Aarin Bothra, freshman - 7th Place in Computer Animation Team
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Jensen Coonradt, junior - 1st Place in Business Law & Ethics; 6th Place - Administrative Support Concept; 7th Place - Computer Animation Team; President’s Volunteer Service Award with 250 hrs, including a letter from the president; and National Torch Award
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BPA Coaches: Stacy Sajder and Bobby Kaminski
Oswego High School students who competed at SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference. This is a Conference that brings together more than 2,000 career and technical education students who compete hands-on in 100 different trade, technical and leadership fields.
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Will Hatfield, senior - 1st Place/Gold Medal & Nationals Qualified in Restaurant Services
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Jack Wolcott, sophomore - 1st Place/Gold Medal & National Qualified in Cabinetmaking
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Daniel Overstreet, junior - 2nd Place/Silver Medal in Cabinetmaking
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Cullen Barker, senior - 3rd Place/Bronze Medal in Cabinetmaking
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Katelyn Thilk, freshman - 3rd Place/Bronze Medal in Baking and Pastry Arts
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SkillsUSA Coaches: Kevin Pattermann and Tom Dwyer
Track & Field athletes from Oswego High School and Oswego East High Schools. The following students competed at the Illinois High School Association’s State Championship and were named All State athletes.
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Hailey Soriaga, junior from Oswego East - 8th place in pole vault
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Chaleica Booker, senior from Oswego High School - 6th place in 400 meter
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Alex Das, senior from Oswego East - 8th place in 1600 meter run
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Parker Nold, senior from Oswego East (not present) - 4th place in 3200 meter run
Other Students Recognized:
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Lauren Sullivan, junior from Oswego High School for being named VALEES Graphic Designer of the Year. VALEES stands for Valley Education for Employment System and ensures that Career and Technical Education programs and services are provided to regional youth through an integrated delivery system.
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Kalae’ Killingham, junior from Oswego East for placing 1st in the 14th Congressional High School Art Competition, hosted by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. Kalae’s piece will now be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
6.2 Staff Recognitions
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Dave Jeffers, Brokaw Early Learning Center, Custodian - Dave Jeffers, or Mr. Dave as he is known at Brokaw, Finished in 3rd Place in the Cintas Custodian of the Year 2023 Contest. He was nominated for consideration based on being a role model for the students at Brokaw as well as for the amount of work he put in after Brokaw suffered a fire that destroyed one of its therapy rooms and severely impacted an inclusive classroom.
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Stephanie San Roman, Oswego High School, Band Teacher - Stephanie has been named as one of 30 music teachers from across the country as 2023 Music Teachers of Excellence by the Country Music Association (CMA) Foundation. This program recognizes educators who are having the greatest impact on their students, using the power of music as an avenue for change.
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Kevin Schoenbach, Oswego High School, Associate Band Director - Kevin has been announced as one of 212 Quarterfinalists for the Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. A total of 212 quarterfinalists out of over 2,000 nominations from 197 cities were announced as quarterfinalists.
7. Presentations
7.1 English Learners Annual Report
Presented by Renee Sartore, Director of English Learners
8. Public Comment
8.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education
Three comments were made at the meeting and can be heard on the video recording.
9. Comments
9.1 Superintendent's Report
Dr. Sparlin presented his final comments as the district’s Superintendent. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role, and thanks everyone for the support!
9.2 Student Ambassador Report
Thank you to Dr. Sparlin for all your support. The committee did meet twice in the final week of school. They acknowledged that there is a generational gap between students and faculty, and the importance of respect in interactions. The students discussed bias and the data they collected. Additional conversation will be had around these biases at their next meeting. Students discussed relationships and the perception of being “liked” by a teacher or not, and how that impacts how the students will be treated, where they will be seated, how they will perform in the classroom. Students have expressed the desire to have a course evaluation during the class, not just at the end, allowing time for changes to be made. They also requested more consistency between teachers related to homework, and class policies. The students would like to build a survey for staff, to allow for their perspective on relationships and building environments for students.
9.3 Board Committee Reports
9.4 Board Member Comments
Mr. Gatewood spoke on behalf of the Board, thanking Dr. Sparlin for his time and commitment to education for decades, his tireless efforts to the students, staff and community of SD 308. Mr. Ploger echoed these grateful sentiments.
10. Approve Consent Agenda
10.1 Minutes from previous Meetings
10.2 Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information (FOIA) Requests
10.3 Gifts and/or Donations
Motion to approve consent agenda; passed 7-0
Mr. Ploger thanked the businesses in the community for their dedication and donations to the schools, and encouraged our community to support those who support the district.
11. Information
11.1 Financial Statements
11.2 School Day Information
Presented by Associate Superintendent Faith Dahlquist.
The discussion of the committee was led with three primary priorities:
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Have the elementary students end earlier in the day
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Address the long lunch periods at Junior High
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Consider how we might also start later for high school students
The largest challenge is transportation, as drivers run a separate route for each grade level, which requires the allotted amount of time between each.
Proposal for 2023-2024 School Year
● Leave High School alone with no changes to student or staff day 7:20- 2:26
● Shorten JH student day by 5 minutes to decrease all passing periods by one minute and lengthen student support time by 3 minutes. 8:10- 3:05
● Shorten Elementary by 5 minutes a day 9:00- 3:45
Reconvene the committee in the fall to determine ways to alter various level schedules to better meet the original priorities.
11.3 Montgomery Potential Tax Abatement
11.4 Intergovernmental Agreement with Oswego Fire/Ambulance
12. Action Items
12.1 Approval of Bills for Payment
Motion Passed 7-0
12.2 Adoption of Oswego School District 308 PRESS Policy Manual
BOE Policy Manual for Adoption and Changes
Motion Passed 6-1
12.3 Resolution and Request for Release of Kendall County Land Cash Funds
Motion Passed 7-0
12.4 Intergovernmental Agreement with Plano Area Special Education Cooperative (PASEC)
Motion Passed 7-0
12.5 Approval of New Mass Communication Tool
Motion Passed 6-1
12.6 Approval of Building Administrator Contracts
John Evans- Principal Traughber Jr. High School
Dr. Renita Craig- Principal Plank Jr. High School
Kaylen Zarembski- Asst. Principal Wolf's Crossing Elementary
Garrett Lefferson -Principal Southbury Elementary
Carol Marszalek -Asst. Principal for Special Education
Motion Passed 6-0-1
12.7 Approval of District Administrator Contract
Dr. Bryan D. Zwemke - Executive Director of Human Resources
Motion Passed 6-0-1
12.8 Approval of Personnel Report
Motion Passed 7-0
13. Adjournment
13.1 Adjourn
Motion to adjourn at 9:35pm
