Oswego School District 308 Invites Community Input on Future Plans

Oswego School District 308 is opening its doors to community members for a series of meetings aimed at shaping the district’s future. As part of developing a master facility plan, the district is seeking input to address both current and future needs. The meetings began in September and will continue throughout October, with the next session scheduled for 6 p.m. on October 22, 2023, at Thompson Junior High School, located at 440 Boulder Hill Pass, Oswego. A virtual meeting will follow on October 27, 2023, at 7 p.m.

The planning process is being facilitated by Wight & Company, an architectural, engineering, and construction firm. The firm was contracted by the school board last October for $380,000 to develop the master facility plan, which focuses on optimizing the district’s educational environments.

During a recent community meeting on September 10, 2023, Stuart Brodsky, principal at Wight & Company, discussed the firm’s approach. He emphasized the importance of creating educational spaces that are not only functional but also environmentally sustainable. “We specialize in designing educational learning environments, particularly early childhood through 12th grade,” Brodsky stated. “We also specialize in designing healthy and sustainable learning environments.”

The evaluation includes a comprehensive review of the physical condition of each building in the district, encompassing aspects such as walls, roofs, windows, mechanical systems, and lighting. Brodsky highlighted that educational alignment is a key focus of the master facility plan. This concept involves ensuring that the learning environments are in sync with the district’s strategic goals.

To enhance educational alignment, the plan proposes several improvements across various buildings. Suggestions include modernizing the administrative spaces at Murphy Junior High, upgrading science labs at Oswego High School, and increasing parking capacity for students at Oswego East High School. Notably, a significant portion of the district’s facilities—around 80 percent—were built between 1995 and 2010.

Despite the age of many buildings, Wight & Company has reported that the district has maintained its facilities well, with no buildings classified as being in critical condition. For further details regarding the Long-Range Facility Plan, community members are encouraged to visit the district’s website at sd308.org.

These community meetings present an essential opportunity for residents to voice their opinions and contribute to shaping the educational landscape for future generations in Oswego.