Oswego Senior Center Moves As OSD308 Reclaims Building

OSWEGO, IL — The Oswego Senior Center is moving to a new location following a termination of its lease with the Oswego School District 308 earlier this month.

According to the center's outreach coordinator Diane Beukelman, they received news on July 1 that as of July 31, the district would reclaim the space in order to "accommodate students safely during this unprecedented pandemic."

The senior center has leased the space, located at 156 E. Washington St., from the school district since 2009. During a meeting in 2018, the OSD308 Board of Education voted to allow the center to use 10 additional classrooms at the former Traughber Junior High School. Their lease was set to expire end of August that year, but the center continued to use the building on a month-to-month basis.

The district was trying to sell the building and while it pursues potential buyers, the senior center would continue using it for a monthly fee of $1, 542, to help cover the costs of utilities, maintenance and upkeep, the Kendall County Now reported. The new fee would be in lieu of the $500 monthly rent that the center had been paying to the district.

Superintendent Dr. John Sparlin told the board during its April 27 meeting this year that they should utilize space that they already have in the district and do so in the most fiscally efficient way, freeing up space in the elementary buildings.

He stressed on the need for space for the district's transition program, since as per his presentation, enrollment will increase from 48 to 96 students by the 2022-2023 school year. The Pathways transition program prepares students with disabilities for adult life by teaching them the skills needed to be a productive member of their family and community.

Sparlin said the first phase of the plan could be completed by August and would move the district's administration offices - with the exception of the copy center and technology department to the former Traughber.

Beukelman said the senior center "enjoyed and appreciated the most amazing facility" and because of the efforts put in by Oswego Township Supervisor Brian LeClercq, they will now be moving to a commercial property located at 84 Templeton Drive.

"Although the new space is smaller, OSC plans to offer area participants as many classes and programs as publicly safe during the COVID-19 pandemic," she said. "Like many senior centers, OSC is actively in the process of planning on-site programs that will accommodate safe health and social distancing practices at the new location."

Due to limited space in the new facility, the center is leaving behind items including office furniture, kitchen items, programming supplies and more. Beukelman said these will be available to the public and cash or check donations will be appreciated.

The items can be claimed from 9 a.m. - noon, July 27-28.

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