Post by momto4 on Oct 13, 2010 10:50:50 GMT -5
beaconnews.suntimes.com/news/1944739-418/board-third-schedule-oswego-schools.html
Oswego decides to build third high school
By Rowena Vergara rvergara@stmedianetwork.com Oct 13, 2010 09:56AM
OSWEGO — Two long-awaited, highly debated decisions affecting the Oswego School District’s high schools were passed by the School Board Tuesday night.
The Oswego School Board voted 4-3 Tuesday to build a third high school to open in the 2014-15 school year to accommodate growth in the district. The decision beat out an alternative to build additions onto both Oswego High and Oswego East High School.
And beginning next school year, freshmen will need to meet a new graduation requirement to make way for a new eight-period flex schedule, which was also passed by the School Board.
The board voted 6-1 to implement a “Flex 8” schedule of eight class periods to begin in 2012-13, overriding the block schedule that had been in place for a decade in the Oswego high schools.
The decisions come after weeks of public forums and meetings, which have fueled the emotions of all parties affected: teachers, students, parents and community members.
School Board President Lynn Cullick, Vice President Michael Scaramuzzi and board member Laurie Pasteris were against building the third high school. But yes votes by Dave Behrens, John Graff, Andrea Schweda and Steve Wolf (by teleconference) sent the measure to passage.
All School Board members were in favor of transitioning to an eight-period schedule except for Behrens.
“My issue with this is the process. We haven’t gotten the people involved enough. Now we’re playing catch-up. We’re saying here’s the system, make it work, instead of getting their input. I’m not there yet,” Behrens said before the vote.
In the original “20/20 Vision” proposal, administration suggested a new schedule for the 2011-12 school year. But several teachers expressed in public forums that they felt teacher input was not considered before making this recommendation. Administration and staff now have a year to implement the new schedule, allowing for a smooth transition for teachers and students. The transition would need to be made at the junior high level as well.
Statewide, more high schools are on a traditional”eight-period schedule, not block scheduling. Another Fox Valley school, Kaneland High School, is also considering dropping block scheduling.
Third high school passes
The third high school, to house ninth- through 12th- graders, will have a minimum capacity of 2,400 students, and preliminary estimates state that it will cost at least $100 million.
School Board members sided with this option over expanding existing high schools, which would have delayed the need for a third high school by about two years.
The money to build the high school will come from a $450 building referendum passed by voters in 2006. In four years, $172 million has been bonded for new elementary schools and a middle school.
But funding to operate the third high school is still unclear.
Administrators stress that the district will need to ask the public for an operating fund increase in a referendum, regardless of whether a third high school is built or not.
Finance Director Tim Neubauer has previously stated that the third high school would need about $2 million to operate it initially,.
The three dissenting board members expressed different reasons for turning down the third high school. Cullick said it was not the right time to build another high school.
Pasteris has consistently pointed out the district’s debt and decreasing fund balance.Scaramuzzi said he believes there are other more cost- effective ways to solve crowding in both high schools, and supported additions to both over building of a new one.
Oswego decides to build third high school
By Rowena Vergara rvergara@stmedianetwork.com Oct 13, 2010 09:56AM
OSWEGO — Two long-awaited, highly debated decisions affecting the Oswego School District’s high schools were passed by the School Board Tuesday night.
The Oswego School Board voted 4-3 Tuesday to build a third high school to open in the 2014-15 school year to accommodate growth in the district. The decision beat out an alternative to build additions onto both Oswego High and Oswego East High School.
And beginning next school year, freshmen will need to meet a new graduation requirement to make way for a new eight-period flex schedule, which was also passed by the School Board.
The board voted 6-1 to implement a “Flex 8” schedule of eight class periods to begin in 2012-13, overriding the block schedule that had been in place for a decade in the Oswego high schools.
The decisions come after weeks of public forums and meetings, which have fueled the emotions of all parties affected: teachers, students, parents and community members.
School Board President Lynn Cullick, Vice President Michael Scaramuzzi and board member Laurie Pasteris were against building the third high school. But yes votes by Dave Behrens, John Graff, Andrea Schweda and Steve Wolf (by teleconference) sent the measure to passage.
All School Board members were in favor of transitioning to an eight-period schedule except for Behrens.
“My issue with this is the process. We haven’t gotten the people involved enough. Now we’re playing catch-up. We’re saying here’s the system, make it work, instead of getting their input. I’m not there yet,” Behrens said before the vote.
In the original “20/20 Vision” proposal, administration suggested a new schedule for the 2011-12 school year. But several teachers expressed in public forums that they felt teacher input was not considered before making this recommendation. Administration and staff now have a year to implement the new schedule, allowing for a smooth transition for teachers and students. The transition would need to be made at the junior high level as well.
Statewide, more high schools are on a traditional”eight-period schedule, not block scheduling. Another Fox Valley school, Kaneland High School, is also considering dropping block scheduling.
Third high school passes
The third high school, to house ninth- through 12th- graders, will have a minimum capacity of 2,400 students, and preliminary estimates state that it will cost at least $100 million.
School Board members sided with this option over expanding existing high schools, which would have delayed the need for a third high school by about two years.
The money to build the high school will come from a $450 building referendum passed by voters in 2006. In four years, $172 million has been bonded for new elementary schools and a middle school.
But funding to operate the third high school is still unclear.
Administrators stress that the district will need to ask the public for an operating fund increase in a referendum, regardless of whether a third high school is built or not.
Finance Director Tim Neubauer has previously stated that the third high school would need about $2 million to operate it initially,.
The three dissenting board members expressed different reasons for turning down the third high school. Cullick said it was not the right time to build another high school.
Pasteris has consistently pointed out the district’s debt and decreasing fund balance.Scaramuzzi said he believes there are other more cost- effective ways to solve crowding in both high schools, and supported additions to both over building of a new one.