District 308 to Discuss Staffing Costs For High School Scenarios

Monday’s Oswego Community Unit School District 308 meeting could make for interesting debate as board members will discuss the operating cost comparison for high school overcrowding options.

A board document on the District 308 website says if school board members opt to go with additions to Oswego High School and Oswego East High School, the personnel costs for school years 2014 through 2018 are anticipated to be $1.96 million combined. The personnel costs for a third high school for those same school years are $2.03 million, a difference of $65,500.

That cost difference gap widens to $600,500 for the 2018-21 school years, and $993,500 for school years 2022 and beyond.

School officials said those numbers are based on a zero-growth model which anticipates an increase to 5,000 high school students for years 2014 through 2018; 5,500 students for years 2019 through 2021; and 5,750 students by the 2022 school year.

School officials also noted that if the additions are built and enrollments increase greater than the projected 5,750 students, additional buildings may be needed.

Also on Monday’s agenda is a presentation by Carla Johnson, District 308's executive director of teaching and learning, with information regarding high school course changes, and a recommendation by Supt. Dan O'Donnell to maintain the existing number of administrative positions currently held at the district, as well as filling the open assistant principal positions on hold.

O'Donnell said the district has been condensing staff since 2008, even while the student population has grown by almost 2,000 students.

A chart on the District 308 website shows that the district operates with fewer administrative personnel than other area districts.

O'Donnell said District 308 central administrators also rank from the middle down in salary comparisons for the same districts based on data from the Large Unit District Association  and Illinois State Board of Education.

The District 308 School Board meets Monday at 7 p.m. in the community room at Oswego East High School.