Post by title1parent on Jul 16, 2010 5:57:10 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/2502326,2_1_AU16_OSSCHOOLS_S1-100716.article
Tough decisions ahead for Oswego School Board
July 16, 2010
By ROWENA VERGARA rvergara@stmedianetwork.com
OSWEGO -- In the Oswego School District, the economic slowdown has hardly stalled growth.
This fall, the Oswego School Board must decide whether to build a third high school, as well as revise block scheduling at the high schools. Administrators are also asking the board to hire an independent firm to revamp the district's boundaries, which could cost at least $32,000.
Full-day kindergarten? That must be decided as well by the School Board. If supported, the question is whether full-day kindergarten should operate at all the elementary schools, or if satellite sites should be created.
"All these decisions are based on other decisions, so they really need to be looked as a whole," district spokesman Kristine Liptrot said.
Some additions to the district are already happening.
The School Board this week unanimously approved two more teaching positions at the elementary level and one additional dean of students at Oswego High School, which were all budgeted for in the 2010-11 year.
The additional staffing is needed because the district continues to see population spurts at Churchill and The Wheatlands elementary schools. As for the two high schools, populations are at about 2,200 students at each building, according to Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin.
"We should've probably added a dean last year at OHS, but we kept prudent," Colvin said.
Administrators previously stated that about 5,000 to 5,400 total high school students could be in the district by 2014-15. The current capacity for both high schools is 4,800 students.
Out of all the discussions on the table, changing block scheduling is getting the most attention from educators and students alike.
Oswego High band instructor Stephanie Silosky asked the School Board on Monday to delay its decision until after the school year starts. Other staffers voiced their support for block scheduling because it exposes students to all kinds of electives that help determine their career goals after high school.
September should prove to be a key decision month for the School Board. The administration will present the board with a report, "2020 Vision," which will lay out the current state of the district, namely its growth issues and its needs going forward.
Tough decisions ahead for Oswego School Board
July 16, 2010
By ROWENA VERGARA rvergara@stmedianetwork.com
OSWEGO -- In the Oswego School District, the economic slowdown has hardly stalled growth.
This fall, the Oswego School Board must decide whether to build a third high school, as well as revise block scheduling at the high schools. Administrators are also asking the board to hire an independent firm to revamp the district's boundaries, which could cost at least $32,000.
Full-day kindergarten? That must be decided as well by the School Board. If supported, the question is whether full-day kindergarten should operate at all the elementary schools, or if satellite sites should be created.
"All these decisions are based on other decisions, so they really need to be looked as a whole," district spokesman Kristine Liptrot said.
Some additions to the district are already happening.
The School Board this week unanimously approved two more teaching positions at the elementary level and one additional dean of students at Oswego High School, which were all budgeted for in the 2010-11 year.
The additional staffing is needed because the district continues to see population spurts at Churchill and The Wheatlands elementary schools. As for the two high schools, populations are at about 2,200 students at each building, according to Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin.
"We should've probably added a dean last year at OHS, but we kept prudent," Colvin said.
Administrators previously stated that about 5,000 to 5,400 total high school students could be in the district by 2014-15. The current capacity for both high schools is 4,800 students.
Out of all the discussions on the table, changing block scheduling is getting the most attention from educators and students alike.
Oswego High band instructor Stephanie Silosky asked the School Board on Monday to delay its decision until after the school year starts. Other staffers voiced their support for block scheduling because it exposes students to all kinds of electives that help determine their career goals after high school.
September should prove to be a key decision month for the School Board. The administration will present the board with a report, "2020 Vision," which will lay out the current state of the district, namely its growth issues and its needs going forward.