I would like to know what type of results the board is expecting from Mr. Wendt. Also how much did they pay the search firm.

good questions 308!!! And I'm sure other residents would love to know, too.

Congrats to Dr. Wendt. I look forward to meeting you!

The district paid $21,000 plus expenses (up to $10,000) to Ray and Associates. Dr. Wendt's contract is public record so you can do a FOIA request if you really want to know.

Good luck 308 with your new hire. Can't say we are too upset about losing him over here in Iowa. If your board and staff consists of "Yes" men (women) then you'll be just fine. And remember this, figures don't lie. Liars figure.

Just read some of the past articles on The Patch concerning your district. You guys are more screwed up than we are. Now I'm really wishing you good luck. I'm going to have to keep checking back to see how you're getting along with Dr. Wendt.

Good luck to every concerned parent that is involved with theirs childs education. The reason Wendt left our district is because the school board members who were in his back pocket got voted out the last election! Now that every hair brained idea can't get passed on the first vote the guy bails out of the boat. This is the kind of guy who is all about "results". The teachers hated him and the curiculum that is currently in place is confusing to teach and learn.

It is uncanny the "similarities between the Ankeny and Oswego school districts..."

http://ankeny.patch.com/articles/ankeny-school-board-four-challengers-far-ahead-with-nearly-all-votes-counted

We get 200+ applicants from 30+ states. We give our selected applicant a $50K a year raise to $225K, and we wonder why our taxes are going sky high and the school never has enough money. Secretary of State Clinton does not make $200K a year. But a school administrator in Oswego does? Time to get a new board with a reality check.These people are in la la land.

http://ankeny.patch.com/articles/ankeny-school-superintendent-matthew-wendt-resigns

Welcome, Dr. Wendt. I'm looking forward to having you in our district.

The positive things I have read include a pro-student, pro-community background, with a strong focus on education. This looks like a step on the right path for our district.

Best of luck to him and his family and I hope he is sucessful for the sake of the kids and our community. Always find it interesting that people post such remarks as above and dont print their full name behind them???

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

Welcome, Dr. Wendt and congratulations.

Does anyone know if we are paying for his relocation for him and his family to move here?

According to his contract, yes, in an amount not to exceed $10,000. But he has to pay that back if he leaves before June 30, 2015.

Well it looks like he is going to fit in just fine here in 308. Seems a contractor they hired to expand there sports fields and make this mega sports complex, did not finish their job they were hired to do. And now the board has to hire someone else to finish and if the vote to use sod instead of seed then it will cost 40k and that's not even to officially complete the complex. Phase 2 of even some other kind of step will cost an addition 200k . Yep it seems he is leaving a district that looks like the same type he is coming to. A spend it even though you don't have it kind of place.
And to note it seems the original architect firm was the ones that seemed to have missed the things needed for those fields, but did not notify the board until after the fact and phase 1 of the construction was almost complete. Seems the bid sheet for what they need was not complete to include the stuff most important for the fields to be ready for competition. Like Dugouts just as one thing needed, there are more. So the board headed by this guy missed the boat on that one.

Well it looks like it's money well spent here in the land District 308.
Here is an article the Ankeny Patch has on this dilemma
http://ankeny.patch.com/articles/athletic-field-setbacks

We could have had this guy for a lot less money. It was not necessary to give him a 27% raise, and who knows what other goodies go along with that? Why not provide a reasonable salary and bump it up the 2nd year after the superintendent has accomplished something? We're apparently keeping up with the Jones.

There are many here in Ankeny that are upset over losing Dr. Wendt. Although I did not always agree with him, he is a true professional and cares about kids. He is extremely knowledgeable, hard-working, and a great leader. He hired a great staff that made significant needed changes to our district. If you're someone who wants to move education forward, this is your guy.

This is a comment from the Ankeny Patch regarding Dr. Wendt:

Good for him. Funny how all of the people running away from our school board are getting bigger and better job. Now that at least 7 high level school leaders have ditched us, maybe the school board will wake up and change their poor leadership. If not, we won't get any good replacements. Word in Des Moines is that Ankeny is broken because no one wants to work for our board.

The comparison to Oswego is incredibly remarkable. I hope we have not just jumped from the frying pan into the fire - but I am willing to reserve judgement until we see what Dr. Wendt does here. Fingers crossed.

I agree, Lisa. I will not judge, but the statement earlier about his previous district having similarities to Oswego and the same type of issues and situation confuses me as to why we take someone from a district that is struggling as much as ours is, and not try to get someone from a district that is clearly thriving. If that district wasn't improved more than ours, how is he going to make ours any better? just a thought...

So this guy was supposedly content at his now former job, yet left because of this opportunity (aka $$$). And OHS wonders why the people they hire keep leaving. What happens the next time another district offers him more $ than OHS?

Post from Ankeny Patch:
I worked with Dr. Wendt on multiple committees and always found him to be professional and focused on what is ultimately best for STUDENTS. He's a well-qualified leader who can prioritize projects, hire talented staff, and move an academically stagnant program forward. If these are important to Oswego, then you've hired the right person. And yes, he's worth the price you paid.

Many of those posting on Ankeny's blog are angry about our rapidly growing community's decision to build a second high school, and Dr. Wendt arrived at the beginning of that transition. Unfortunately, there's a contingent within Ankeny focused on having only 1 football team -- forever, thus 1 high school. However, if you read nearly ANY white paper on the subject of school size, it's clear Ankeny made the right decision. We are 15 months away from opening high school #2, and not everyone is happy about the decision....except the students. The overwhelming majority of kids have embraced the changes and are excited for new opportunities.

With the turnover of 4 board members in Sept 2011, the current 7 board members have made it clear they do not wish to work with Dr. Wendt, nor his staff and are exceedingly disrespectful in board meetings -- I've seen them in action. Who in their right mind would work in this untenable environment. Wendt made the right choice to find another job. I would, too.

Ankeny is losing a talented leader...and Oswego is gaining one.

Post from Ankeny Patch:
I worked with Dr. Wendt on multiple committees and always found him to be professional and focused on what is ultimately best for STUDENTS. He's a well-qualified leader who can prioritize projects, hire talented staff, and move an academically stagnant program forward to the next level. If these are important to Oswego, then you've hired the right person. And yes, he's worth the price you paid.

Many of those posting on theAnkeny Patch are angry about our rapidly growing community's decision to build a second high school, and Dr. Wendt arrived at the beginning of that transition. Unfortunately, there's a contingent within Ankeny focused on having only 1 football team -- forever, thus 1 high school. However, if you read nearly ANY white paper on the subject of school size, it's clear we made the right decision. We are 15 months away from opening high school #2, and not everyone is happy about the decision....except the students. The overwhelming majority of kids have embraced the changes and are excited for new opportunities.

With the turnover of 4 board members in Sept 2011, the current 7 board members have made it clear they do not wish to work with Dr. Wendt, nor his staff and are exceedingly disrespectful in board meetings -- I've seen them in action. Who in their right mind would work in this untenable environment. Wendt made the right choice to find another job. I would, too.

Ankeny is losing a talented leader...and Oswego is gaining one.

Needless to say he has a tough job and is in a fish bowl. I wish him the best. We ALL need him to do well. Pray the best for him, our kids and our community. And he is from Iowa so he has that going for him!

Thanks to Tina Conley and Kathy, in the beginning of these comments for providing the Ankeny Patch links that relate very interesting information. There are similarities in the situations at Ankeny and Oswego especially in the building, spending and tax increases. According to one comment Ankeny's tax rate increase was even higher than ours.
In my opinion the salary for the new Superintendent like the salary for the new Asst. Superintendent for Finance is far above what should be paid. The salary for Superintendent Wendt is a $49,000 raise over his Ankeny salary of $176,000. This is not an example of sound fiscal responsibility by the Board of Education. If you read the Ankeny links you will see that although he resigned he was given a $176,00 transition payment, which the Ankeny Patch calls severance pay. It seems rather unusual that there is transition/severance payment in the case of a resignation.

http://ankeny.patch.com/articles/ankeny-school-board-member-tells-register-departing-superintendent-should-give-back-severance-money

Oops! Sounds like they aren't lovin' the idea now.

And now his "transition pay" drama has hit the local media in Ankney:

http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/Ankeny-School-Board-blasts-outgoing-superintendent/-/9357080/14435638/-/d6kd67z/-/index.html

Comment from Ankeny parent: Many are concerned on the Oswego blog about the amount of Dr. Wendt's new salary. Perhaps a more important question is, "WHAT are you getting for your money?"

Prior to Wendt's arrival in Ankeny, the curriculum had not been reviewed in 10+ years. The staff consisted of 1 director and an assistant to set the curriculum for over 7,000 students. YIKES! We weren't meeting state standards...but don't tell anyone, as it's our little secret, and few in the community knew this. They assumed the schools were excellent based on their previous reputation. The curriculum between the 8 elementary schools lacked continuity and consistency, even within the same elementary building.

Shortly after Wendt arrived, he assembled a stellar curriculum team who I've worked with on numerous occasions. This team reviewed all subject areas within 4 years--much faster than the typical 7 year cycle--and chose curriculum based on data driven results, not just "oh, this one looks easy to use."

The end results have been extremely favorable, and more importantly, the students are getting the help they need either through second chance reading, math lab, extended learning programs, AP courses, etc. Is it perfect? No, but there has been tremendous progress. Dr. Wendt made this happen -- even though some of the teaching staff balked at changing.

He will challenge you to become a much better school district so be ready to make some changes!

I haven't seen anyone talk about this guy's skills in spending less money in a district and saving the taxpayer's money.

Due to my business, I get to talk to a lot of homeowners. I never hear them talk about things they'd like the district to spend money it. It's always about how high their taxes are.

Just as the People who supported Dr. O'Donnell (and MANY did) don't submit to the Patch, I am sure that the supporters Dr. Wendt had in his previous district don't submit to their patch either. Only time will tell how well he will do. remember Dr. Behlow was here for 8 years and some great things.Dr. O'Donnell should have been here longer.

Yep Behlow was the master schmoozer and owned many board members. Plank before him reduced developer transition when he should have increased them. So yes we have a wonderful history in Oswego. Time will tell and the problem is that if it doesn't work out we will have to buy out the remaining time on his contract or suck it up and read more about how your taxes went up and how the board is irresponsible and the need to change. It's the same old story. I'm all for education, I just wish I had the job some of you apparently have to pay for it.

I have friends that live in Ankeny and they all are sad to see Dr. Wendt leave. He's led the push to improve their curriculum and test scores. He expanded the Gifted Program. He puts the students first, as a superintendent should.

Instead of being so certain he's going to be horrible, how about we all try to be positive and at least get to know him a little before we condemn him? I, for one, am ready to hear and see positive news about 308; we've had a lot of bad press the last few months. I'm tired of the doom and gloom.

Just to let you Oswego people know....I am glad he is gone.......I am sorry for you people.....

Can anyone help me ....???? When was Dr. Wendt offered the job? Was the board meeting on a agenda for Thursday to announce his hiring? Just wondering? He certainly knew he had your job...when he stole our money....Someone please look up your board agenda...give the dates and times.....Might help us get our money back.....