Nice article

Kudos to Steven Jack for a well written and to-the-point article. As a parent volunteer active in our school community, I've had the privilege to know Dr. O'Donnell and I completely agree with your description of his character and commitment to the well being of our students. It is a shame that politics have come in the way and prompted such a good superintendent to leave our district. I have witnessed his passion and determination to accomplish what is best for our district and how his efforts have been blocked by what seem almost like political "agendas". It seems like he has been working against the tide, like a President with a Congress and Senate of an opposite majority vetoing every project just because. I am truly saddened by Dr. O'Donnell's departure and wish him all the good things he deserves. Thank you for your service to our community!

Steven, you hit the nail on the head! I hope people are listening, and I have a feeling they are.

Can't really add a word but I agree completely. People who show up make the decisions. People showed up, voted and the people election did what they said. Why we don't need a third high school is beyond me. And why running off good leaders is part of the process escapes me as well. I will keep praying for our schools, our leaders and our children that are impacted by the these decisions.

I disagree that the current board has "a vision". I think they have "anti-vision" - they know what they DON'T want but have no plan to replace what they veto. That's why getting decisions out of this board is like pulling teeth. I have no confidence that a vote on the boundaries will take place on Monday regardless of the critical importance, introducing further chaos into the system as the schools scramble to handle delayed registrations, staffing decisions, and program placements.

Nice article Steve. The most important decision a board will make is the hiring of a superintendent. Will they allow the new sup. to pick thier own team of admins. or will the board continue down the highly unusual path of participating in the interviewing process. The operating fund is bleeding money. How they go about tackling the fiscal issues without further dividing the community will be very challenging for them. As challenging as boundaries are much bigger storm clouds lie ahead. Trying to move forward with a divided community will be a daunting task. The board needs to reckonize this and takes steps to bring the community together in support of the district. You have awoken the community and they are now watching what the board is doing perhaps more than ever.

Well written Stephen! I agree w/ Jennifer..you need a "Like" button.

Take politics out of it for a moment and what is left is a majority of voters who have lost jobs and lost homes, who are barely getting by and cannot afford an increase of taxes to pay for a third high school that may or may not be needed in the future. The hard truth is that the electorate had no choice but to vote with their pocket book this time around. This is the board that was chosen because the electorate had no more money left in their pocketbooks to pay higher taxes. That is the SAD TRUTH. When times are good we are willing to spend more, and if times were good those previous board members would still have their seats. These are very difficult financial times for many as all of you should know when you see the foreclosures happening all around you. This board will have to make some difficult decisions ahead, and I hope they put the students before all else. All else would include higher administrative costs, expensive brick and mortar projects as well as artificial turf (let's not forget about that). Let's spend the money on the kids by getting rid of tenure, teachers that don't perform and money on books and equipment and program and research. How's that for an idea?

I cannot believe that in this day and age, someone would actually suggest that the way to a better education for the future of this country is to get "rid of .....books and equipment and program and research"!! Please tell me that this is what this discussion as come down to. Do we really want to cut funding on the learning materials that our children use? That is ABSOLUTELY the wrong direction!!

This is low point for our school district. We have a school board that is ignorant and disingenuous. Why did they push Dr. O’Donnell out? Because he is everything they are not and that’s why they didn’t get along. We are loosing a Superintendent who truly cares about his district. Steven you hit the nail right on the head when you describe how most Superintendents are aloof and disconnected. That’s everything Dr O’Donnell is not. Dr O’Donnell, I’m truly sorry to see you go. This board is destroying our school district. Where else have you ever heard of a BOE driving off the top 3 administrators of a school district? Also are the rumors true about Laurie Pasteris husband interviewing for one of the three positions? If so, this just proves that this board is not for the better of our district or our kids. Why do we want a person who was fired when he was a Principal in Plainfeild? We have a BOE president that just ignores facts to suit his own interests. How many times can it be explained to him that Churchill is overcrowded? The board says they are fiscally responsible but why are we spending $200,000 to add Industrial Arts to Traughber when the majority of the student body doesn’t want it? Where was this survey they said they were going to do to see if IA was wanted? Why did they consolidate the architecture fees when it was going to cost more? The only good thing this board has done is show the people how important it is to go out and vote.

Cindy, there are two sides to every sword. Tenure was put in place to keep teachers from being taken advantage of, stuff like keep the hard working teacher at minimum wage and when they're too old, throw them out. Google "Lillie Leon age discrimination teacher". There are tons of cases like this.

Cindy, I agree with you but you will never be able to convince some that there is a new reality on the ground. What? budget within our means? Ridiculous! Any attempt to accept the new economic reality will be met with derisive name callling, child hating, emotional, self-rightous rhetoric. I can't go to the public meetings to make my voice heard, but I can and will vote.

Steven's piece is well written and moving but its primarily about how nice and friendly ODonnell is. Well, are you saying that because the "job" became too hard, that he just couldn't make the tough choices? Heads of households with children are staying on the job even when their incomes are shattered or absent, and some are teaching their kids how to cope with realities and adversities. I admire those folks.

Education is no different than private industry in that if you want to advance professionally and increase your compensation, you generally need to move on. You see this all the time with building level administrators as well as at the district level. And like private industry, you also see people who dislike things about their position (their peers, their boss, job satisfaction, etc.) and they move on.

This was a well written piece and I have no doubt that the world will keep turning, school will go on and we will move forward. As will Dr. O'Donnell. Best wishes to all.

O.K. I posted the first comment on how Steve wrote a nice article. He takes time to research and has been around to know whats going on. Then we got to the, get rid of teachers, possible nepotism. etc. But, you should also look at the principals and administrators also. So pointing the fingers at the teachers is not always the answer.
Did Dr Dan get forced out? Don't know. Did Colvin get forced out? Don't know. Many superintendants go from state to state, or district to district, collecting pensions along the way .Many leave for bigger paydays. Is the board overstepping the boundries in some cases, or were previous boards puppets? I like when rocks are turned over and questions asked why are we doing it this way. It seems in Oswego the answer is because thats what they did it before. So is this board a group of rebels? maybe. Do we need rebels in todays economy YES. I spoke about the radon at Boulder Hill and think the board, and Dr Dan finally got results working together. So is Dr. Dan picking up his ball and leaving? maybe. We won't ever know, or maybe he will just say it was time for me to retire. (That is his right). But for us to blame the board, or point fingers is yet to be told. Only Dr Dan knows why he is leaving. Keep in mind that with forclosures, divorces,and unemployment,destroying our families, teachers do more for these kids then just teach. They help fill the void emotionally, and mentally for our chidren when the home life is rough. Good luck Dan,

The basic fact is that this board is very derisive and is forcing through the agendas that they favor. I was at the meeting where they decided to spent $200,000 on the Industrial Arts program for Traughber and use this to replace the advanced computer lab. Is anyone willing to say they would rather their child learns to run a drill press over web design. In a district complaining about money this borders on insanity. When the top three members of a school district quit and give up their jobs and financial security it is a serious warning sign. Nobody is willing to give up their paycheck.

Wow-a little truth comes out: so teaching our kids to be tradesmen is terrible but teaching them how to manipulate a keyboard in front of a computer is laudable. How do you think this country was built? It was by the hands of hardworking people. Have you thought a about the resignations from another point of view?: well, Oswego's not going to continue to pay well so I'll go elsewhere to get the dollars I deserve.

I am shocked and Mr.Odonnell will be missed. It sign of the times my be but we can also welcome consolidated school districts per the Quinn era if that is the bigger picture. Unfortunately, is tis the solid statues of movers and shakers in the community that really hit with resistance upon change. I am in support of Odonnell recommendations for murphy hs and really see the issue as a change momentuem. When big instititions under go change most companies bring in a concepts such as prochasta training that preps on the process of change and then adapts it. It really is a worthy tool. I would hope that he would consider being a consultant as this may go array next year.

'Elections have consequences' - well said. I for one am happy to see community apathy turning into civic activism. Sad as our situation is, I'm inspired by my fellow citizens and their involvement in the process. May the best ideals win!

Nice article Steve. Dan's absence will be a loss though more so because the current majority will probably not find an equally qualified replacement. They have sown, now they will reap and I think they'll find the crop less than satisfying.

Nice article Steve. I wish you would have had that insight before the last election. Dr O'Donnell came to this community many times before he originally interviewed for the position. He ate at the local establishments, visited the library, talk to people on the street and really got to know the heart of this community. He saw this as a place to plant roots. He is an outstanding man who knew what this district needed. He just was not allowed to do his job. I wish him well and hope he remembers this community for what it is. Great.

A lot of comments of how nice and likeable Dr. O’Donnell is but none on accomplishments. Facts: He supported the 2006 Referendum building plan which declining revenues could not support and continued pressing on even after voters voted to stop building. He did not send the required letter to the county to keep the tax rate capped at 5.06% promised to the public as a condition to pass the 2006 referendum, resulting in the 5.84% tax rate. Added non-mandated All Day Kindergarten that takes up extra elementary building space and requires busing when the state is reducing busing reimbursement which will cause increased costs Resigns in the middle of a contentious boundary situation.

Steve Wolf a previous BOE Finance Committee Member wins for telling the biggest whopper when he said the additions cost is about as much as a third high school. Current additions total estimate is $44 million compared to $102 million estimate for the third high school. No wonder the district got further in debt when a board finance member doesn’t recognize a difference of $58 million. Steve doesn’t show concern for those who have financial problems because he says the majorities are okay. Steve states that Dr. O checked out Oswego but the board Steve sat on that hired Dr. O did not make an on-site visit to his last district. Who should have vetted whom?

Lee, 44 million is an estimate. We do not have the exact numbers yet. I will retract if the numbers are not closer to $70 million. If you have not noticed part of that money was used to build Murphy a building that while it sat for longer then expectedmis now a needed facility. I guess we could have waited and built it a few years later. Hind sight is 20/20 which is why you focus so much on the past and not the future. I backed it and I would again. It was the right thing to do at the time.
I mentioned that not everyone was losing their jobs and their homes. Not that I didn't care about those that have. I've gone through my share of financial hardship, so I would suggest you not comment on how people feel. What to know call me and we can discuss it.

A comment was removed from this article because it masked profanity. Let's keep it clean.

@ Steve Wolf: Your comment Feb.25, "Cindy the sad truth is that the additions being added to the two high schools is about as much as a third high school,----." You said the the cost is about the same and there was no mention of Murphy. Murphy was already built using money from the referendum before there were plans and estimates for the third high school. Murphy costs were never a part of estimated cost for the third high school. $44 Million is the latest estimate for additions and the published estimate for the third high school was $102 Million. You brought up the past and I only ommented to correct what was a false statement. I am glad that you state you care about those losing their jobs and homes; however, your support of continuing building beyond needs as a board member, which increased taxes on everyone, didn't demonstrate concern. I am sorry to hear that you have had financial hardship but I do not think your invitation for a discussion on your personal issues would be beneficial.
The current BOE is excercising oversight which recent previous boards did not do and I know it seems foreign to you. You also stated; "Worse then that we find ourselves in a situation where we could see a candidate with ties to one of our board members. Chicago politics in Oswego?" We live in a Democratic Republic where citizens have rights for jobs regardless of relationships. Your inference that simply being a candidate is Chicago Politics is over the top.

Cindy: Your comment: "--let's spend less on paying BAD tenured teachers, artificial turf and empty schools and INSTEAD spend the money on books, supplies, programs and research that actually benefit the students.", is exactly on target and an example of good common sense. Good Job!

I would add to your list:: reduce salaries for some high administrative positions, stop hiring consultants to do work that central administration should be able and required to perform, delete classes that are not required and do not prepare students for either college or the work force and institute Zero Based Budgeting where every department has to justify budget needs annually.