Board of Education

What is the Board of Education?

In Illinois, public education is the State’s constitutional responsibility. The State delegates to local school boards the authority to govern school districts within the parameters set by state law.  Boards are made up of seven school district residents elected to serve terms of four years without pay. Although the Board is politically responsible to district voters, it is legally responsible to the state.

What is the Board’s role?

• Developing and adopting goals and policies that meet state and local requirements.

• Providing the resources necessary to pursue its goals according to its policies.

• Monitoring District performance to see that results are consistent with goals and policies.

What are the Board’s duties?

• Approving curriculum and textbook selection

• Hiring personnel and setting their salaries

• Providing and maintaining school buildings

• Awarding all contracts and paying all bills

• Arranging for the revenue necessary to operate the District

When are regular meetings of the Board of Education scheduled?

The Board of Education meetings are scheduled for the second and fourth Monday of each month unless otherwise noted. All meetings will be held in the Oswego East High School Community Room, 1525 Harvey Rd, Oswego, Illinois. 

The first Board meeting of each month is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. to accomodate the Growth, Finance and Curriculum committee meetings that are held from 6-7:30 p.m. The second Board meeting of each month is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  During months in which there is only one Board meeting scheduled (December, March and July) the Board meeting is slated to begin at 7 p.m. The schedule for Board meetings and the agendas are posted on the District website www.oswego308.org.  The dates, location and times may be changed pending Board recommendation and approval.

How are the Board of Education meetings conducted?

Each meeting follows an agenda, which establishes a sequence of events for the meetings. The meeting is conducted by the Board President based on a combination of Robert’s Rules of Order, common sense, and common courtesy. Meetings can last up to several hours, depending on the contents of the agenda.

What items are listed on the agendas?

• The order of business is as follows:

• Roll Call

• Pledge of Allegiance

• Recognition

• Open Session (Public Comment)

• Notification and Announcements

• Approval of Consent Agenda

• Information and Discussion Items

• Action Items

• Reports and Other Communications

• Executive Session

• Adjournment

Copies of the agenda and supporting material are available at each meeting and located on the table inside the door.

Are Board of Education meetings public?

Board meetings are not “public” meetings but rather are meetings, which are held in public.  By law, all Board discussion and deliberations must be conducted in public, except for certain matters, such as personnel, negotiations, and legal matters, which must be discussed in closed session. However, all official Board action (voting) must occur in public.

Are District residents allowed to participate in the meeting?

There are specific times noted on the Agenda when public comments are received. The tradition has been to allow any visitor the opportunity to comment or ask questions of the Board during the Open Session of the meeting. The Board President recognizes visitors who wish to comment, maintains order during the meeting, and calls an end to comments and discussion when this seems appropriate.

When speaking to the Board Remember to:

• State your name and address at the start of your comments. Identify the organization, if any, that you represent.

• Keep your remarks brief. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep your comments under three minutes.

May I ask other non-Board item questions related to the District?

Generally, questions should be referred to the teacher, principal, or administrator who is closest to the situation.  If you have questions about the Board of Education, its role and the operation of the school district, please feel free to contact the Superintendent at 630.636.3080 or members of the Board of Education.

Will the Board resolve my concern at this meeting?

The Board rarely can be expected to act immediately on an issue brought before it for the first time. Even with more familiar issues, the Board takes action only after it thoroughly has examined all aspects of a matter. You may, however, expect the Board to act as promptly as circumstances allow and notify you when it arrives at a decision.

Oswego Community Unit School District Strategic Initiatives

• Immediately acquire the resources needed to match facilities with high enrollment growth

• Create an organizational structure and staff that are committed to and focused on the district’s mission, vision and beliefs

• Establish coordinated and integrated systems of data and planning

• Develop ownership, trust, and leadership by board and community