Oswego School District 308 Invites Community Input on Future Plans

Oswego School District 308 is engaging its community to shape the future of its facilities. The district has scheduled a series of community meetings aimed at gathering feedback for a master facility plan that addresses both current and future needs. These meetings, which began in September, will continue throughout October, offering residents multiple opportunities to voice their opinions.

The next community meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on October 22, 2023, at Thompson Junior High School, located at 440 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswego. A virtual meeting is also planned for 7 p.m. on October 27, 2023. The architectural, engineering, and construction firm, Wight & Company, will facilitate these gatherings to ensure community input is effectively integrated into the planning process.

In a previous meeting on September 10, Stuart Brodsky, a principal at Wight & Company, discussed the firm’s focus on designing educational spaces tailored for students from early childhood through 12th grade. He emphasized the importance of creating healthy and sustainable environments, stating, “We specialize in designing educational learning environments… that are good stewards of the environment and also buildings that are healthy to be in, where students are going to be comfortable and can thrive.”

As part of the master facility plan, Wight & Company is assessing the physical condition of each building within the district. Brodsky explained that this includes evaluating essential aspects such as walls, roofs, windows, mechanical systems, and lighting. Additionally, the firm is considering the concept of educational alignment, which aims to better connect interior learning spaces with the district’s strategic goals.

The proposed improvements outlined in the plan focus on modernization and enhancement. For instance, there are suggestions to upgrade administrative spaces at Murphy Junior High, enhance science laboratories at Oswego High School, and increase student parking facilities at Oswego East High School. This initiative responds to the fact that approximately 80 percent of the district’s buildings were constructed between 1995 and 2010.

While Wight & Company noted that the district has maintained its facilities well, ensuring that no building is in critical condition, the need for updates to meet contemporary educational standards remains a priority. The community meetings are a vital part of this process, allowing stakeholders to contribute their visions for the district’s future.

For more details about Oswego School District 308’s Long-Range Facility Plan, interested individuals can visit the district’s official website at sd308.org.