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Dan O'donnell

Thursday, May 31, 2012

District 308 Board to Choose New Superintendent Tonight

The search for a successor to Dan O'Donnell will likely conclude tonight, in a special meeting set for 7 p.m. at Oswego High School.

The search for a new superintendent for District 308 has been ongoing since March. Tonight, it’s likely to come to an end. The Oswego School District Board has called a special meeting for tonight, and the agenda strongly indicates that a new superintendent will be announced by the end of the night. The one action item listed, in fact, is as follows: “The Board will approve the new superintendent’s contract.” Board Member Mike Scaramuzzi confirmed Wednesday that the board has made its final decision on a superintendent. He said he was thrilled with the quality of the candidates brought forth by the district's search firm, Iowa-based Ray and Associates, and said the final two candidates, interviewed again at the end of May, presented board …

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Charlotte G.

11:31 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012

Wendt is not from Iowa. He was an out-of-stater from a Kansas school district in 2007. That was not an issue back then, where he came from. Now, he is moving East again. Hopefully he is given the chance in Oswego that his prior district did, however his tenure there is turning out now.   more ›

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

School Board Upping Pay For New Superintendent

Next District 308 chief will receive about 17 percent more than outgoing O'Donnell.

Whoever is hired to replace Dan O’Donnell as superintendent of Oswego School District 308 will receive about a 17.5 percent pay increase over what O’Donnell made this year. According to the Ray and Associates job posting on the superintendent search firm’s website, the salary range for the new hire is $235,000 plus benefits. O’Donnell was paid $200,000 this year plus benefits, confirmed Kristy Kuntz, the district’s executive director of human resources. Board President Bill Walsh said the board partly looked at surrounding districts for guidance in setting the new salary guideline. “After the board reviewed comparable compensations of surrounding areas as well as listening to the feedback from all the groups interviewed by Ray and …

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Beth Krane

3:01 pm on Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Thank you for taking the time to help educate me (if not others) on how the salary seems to be going up when everything else important is shrinking (i.e. teacher's, aides, buses, their salaries). Maybe, just maybe, some local will walk in and make an offer they cannot refuse. And if they do, they'd be the fools. Maybe a teacher will respectively say, "Give me a chance." After all, what could it …   more ›

Thursday, April 12, 2012

School Board Gets Survey Results

More than 500 community stakeholders responded to a survey asking what qualities they want in the next superintendent of District 308 schools.

The Oswego District 308 School Board was presented Wednesday night with the results of more than 500 surveys filled across the district regarding the qualities stakeholders are seeking in the district’s next superintendent. Board members heard from Ray and Associates, the firm hired to conduct the superintendent search, that respondents want a leader who among other qualities, “inspires trust … and models high levels of integrity and personal performance, is strongly committed to a student first philosophy, is a strong communicator, has successful experience in sound fiscal practices and is able to build consensus and commitment among individuals and groups.” Along with the data from the survey questions, the firm also included in its …

Julie DiCaro

9:31 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012

This school board really does seem to try to find every way possible to not have to take responsibility for anything. Committees, surveys, etc. Just do your job and pick someone.   more ›

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Third Top Administrator Resigns from District 308

Tim Neubauer, assistant superintendent of business and finance, has accepted a position in Barrington schools.

Another top administrator in District 308 has handed in his resignation. Tim Neubauer, assistant superintendent of business and finance, has accepted a similar position with Barrington Community Unit School District 220, and will begin his new job July 1. Neubauer is the fourth top administrator to leave the district this year. Superintendent Dan O’Donnell gave his resignation last month, Assistant Superentendent Todd Colvin resigned in January and Assistant Superintendent Marsha Hollis will retire at the end of the year. Neubauer was the first external candidate hired by O’Donnell in 2009. “Tim has been a very valuable member of our administrative team. His expert knowledge of school finance and budgeting has helped the district weather …

S.D.

8:16 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012

Also curious on how the fast-tracking of a particular board member's spouse is going. . . interesting most of the board decided to want to become more involved with the choosing of all administrators once this man's name popped up on applications etc. The board member - I'm told - said she would resign if her husband gets the job (from what I understand it just needs "i's" dotted and "t's" …   more ›

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

School Board Approves Superintendent Search Firm

District will spend $31,000 to find replacement for Dan O'Donnell.

After a four-and-a-half closed session Monday night, the Oswego School District 308 school board unanimously approved the hiring of Ray and Associates Inc. to conduct the search for a new superintendent. Though the majority of the session was used to discuss other matters, representatives from the Cedar Rapids-based firm appeared before the board behind closed doors to discuss the search, which will cost the district a total of about $31,000. Board President Bill Walsh said Tuesday morning that the firm will begin working immediately to help find a replacement for outgoing Superintendent Dan O’Donnell who will leave the district at the end of June. The next step in the process will be individual meetings between board members and the firm …

Jane Enviere

3:55 pm on Thursday, March 22, 2012

I would think that any interested candidates from within the district are welcome to apply.   more ›

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

School Board Selects Firm to Conduct New Superintendent Search

Five firms presented their plans Monday night. Ray and Associates Inc. came out the winner.

The search is on to replace District 308 Superintendent Dan O’Donnell. The School Board heard from five superintendent search firms Monday night as they began the process of hiring a replacement for O’Donnell. After a closed session at the end of the meeting, they decided to negotiate a contract with Ray and Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, district spokeswoman Kristine Liptrot said. The firm will be asked to return to Oswego on Monday to discuss the terms of a contract and answers questions from board members. According to online board documents, Ray and Associates' presentation to the board placed the company's base fee for superintendent searches at $21,000. Before the closed session, board members questioned five firms vying for the …

russ harrison

5:22 pm on Monday, March 19, 2012

There are search firms that would have taken this job on spec...and the IASB would have done the legwork to find qualified candidates as well. So why are we paying a base fee again?   more ›

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Wheatlands Boundaries Unchanged in School Board Vote

Cost estimates for high school additions come in significantly under budget.

Parents at The Wheatlands Elementary School can breathe a bit easier today as the District 308 School Board voted unanimously Monday night to maintain current boundaries.  The vote means students from the Four Pointes and Amber Fields North subdivisions will remain at the Wheatlands until boundaries are likely redrawn again in three years. Leaving the boundaries as is was the recommendation of the boundary committee, and superintendent Dan O'Donnell again assured the board that the administration will be able to handle any overcrowding issues that may arise at the Wheatlands in the coming years. "With some tweaking internally we can leave it as is at this point in time without having to move whole neighborhoods, and that's the basis of our…

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J Wayne

5:49 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012

However I must compliment the principle of The Hunt Club, Phil. I have heard nothing but good things about his interaction with the program!!   more ›

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Board OKs Boundaries, Accepts O'Donnell's Resignation

Outgoing superintendent leaving over differences in leadership philosophy with board.

The District 308 School Board voted Monday night to accept the original recommendation of its boundary committee in redrawing the district’s 2012-13 attendance lines. After another four hours of debate and public comment, the board voted 5-2 with board members Lynn Cullick and Laurie Pasteris voting no. Lessening the student population at The Wheatlands Elementary School was not addressed Monday night, and the board will discuss options for that at its March 5 meeting with a possible vote on those boundaries coming March 12. One option being considered for The Wheatlands would be to move students from the Four Pointes or Amber Fields North subdivisions to Wolf’s Crossing Elementary School. The special education Life Skills program also …

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Christina Spaulding

9:32 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012

Jennifer- That is easy for you and your friends to say because you got what you wanted. I am sure you would be singing a different tune if Murphy was not opening. Not everyone wants to be part of "The Murph". You need to get over yourself and your self entitled attitude.   more ›

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

O'Donnell Submits Resignation Letter

District 308 chief stepping down after less than three years.

 District 308 Superintendent Dan O’Donnell submitted his letter of resignation to the School Board Wednesday, according to district spokeswoman Kristine Liptrot. O’Donnell’s contract with the district was to expire in June 2013, and the board will vote Monday as part of the personnel report on whether to accept his resignation. His last day with the district likely will be June 30, Liptrot said.  When asked why O’Donnell resigned, Liptrot could only say “the letter has not been released and it’s in the hands of the Board of Education.” Liptrot said the letter will be released after the vote on the personnel report Monday. O’Donnell began in District 308 in July of 2009.  Update 5:55 p.m. Board members Laurie Pasteris and Brent Lightfoot …

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Robert Green

6:19 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Everyone NEEDS to look at the dollars!!! There will be NO FUTURE if everyone is driven out of the county because of the Property Taxes!!! District 308 is 2/3s of the tax bill which is rapidly approaching an equal footing with my house payment! ...and who will buy our homes when we have to move out because we can't afford the taxes anymore? What happens when homes become empty and there are fewer …   more ›

Friday, July 29, 2011

Walsh: District Needs Direction on Easing School Overcrowding

Workshop set for Thursday to discuss options.

With a third high school off the table for Oswego Community Unit School District 308, officials will hold a workshop next week to begin brainstorming other remedies to ease overcrowding. “We have to address other options such as utilizing the resources that are not currently utilized as well as have continued discussion on if we’re going to have one addition, two additions or no additions,” said District 308 School Board President Bill Walsh. The school board voted 5-1 Monday night to terminate the planning and construction of a third high school proposed for near Plainfield and Ridge roads. Officials will hold a workshop, open to the public, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Community Room at Oswego East High School, to discuss other …

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Beth Krane

5:03 am on Sunday, August 7, 2011

@ Leland - I usually do get an early start. Today I was delayed by nearly an hour. It worked for me. :) Thank you for your insight. I really like the way you are presenting your options as valid and get us over the hump. I am not thrilled at increase class sizes, however I prefer that option over cutting programs or raising our tax base seeing as how the economy is going to hit Oswego hard again…   more ›

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