District 308 seeking advisory committee members
November 15, 2012
The District 308 Board of Education is establishing four new advisory committees to help it determine the future direction of the school district.
Approximately 25 members will be selected to join each committee, consisting of a combination of residents, parents and employees of School District 308. These individuals will be responsible for evaluating current operations and developing recommendations for future improvements. District 308 Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Paul O’Malley will initially serve on all four committees along with two members of the District 308 Board of Education.
The monthly committee meetings are expected to be held in the early evenings for approximately two hours. Meetings for the Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee and Finance and Operations Advisory Committee are expected to begin in November. The other two committees—Facilities and Planning Advisory Committee and Policy Development Advisory Committee—are slated to begin meeting in January. All committee meetings are open to the public.
“Expanding the board’s advisory committees to include parents, citizens, staff members and board members will provide the school district a framework of collaboration,” said District 308 Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt. “The partnership with stakeholders is vital to creating a world-class educational system. We have an opportunity to work together and offer recommendations to the Board of Education, which in return, will positively impact the school system. My experience is that when dedicated people participate in the process, great things happen.”
Ideal committee members are individuals with qualities, knowledge and/or experience in the committee area for which they apply. Committee members will be asked to serve staggered terms of either one or two years.
Although the committee may suggest recommendations for the superintendent to bring forth to the Board of Education, the board will not be bound by them.
Individuals interested in serving on one of the four advisory committees are asked to review the charge of each committee listed below and then complete and submit an
information form to the district.
- The Teaching & Learning Advisory Committee will consider curriculum, staff development, student achievement and other similar topics.
- The Facilities & Planning Advisory Committee will address long-range planning for facilities and other elements of facility development and construction, including student enrollment planning and projection, building capacity and utilization and district boundaries.
- The Finance & Operations Advisory Committee will consider district finances, operations and business practices.
- The Policy Development Advisory Committee will review policy, recommend changes and oversees a review cycle of Board policies, including student handbooks.
Information forms for the Teaching and Learning and Finance and Operations advisory committee must be received by the district by Friday, November 2. The Facilities and Planning and Policy Development information forms must be received by November 16. The forms will be forwarded to the superintendent, who will make the final committee selections. Information forms are available online at
www.oswego308.org or at the District 308 Administrative Center, 4175 Route 71 in Oswego.
“The advisory committees are a great opportunity for parents, staff, community members and board representatives to collaborate in the construction of a world-class education system. The district’s education system is the responsibility of everyone that lives or works in the district. These committees are the perfect forum to obtain many different perspectives as we continuously work to elevate the district,” said Board President Bill Walsh. “On behalf of the board and the students who are counting on all of us, I would like to thank everyone who will make a commitment to serve on an advisory committee or who offers ideas for improvement to a committee member.”
Click here to access the information form.