Sparlin: Referendum Aims To Avoid Further Cuts

The Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education passed a resolution to present an operating referendum to voters on the April 2, 2019 ballot. In an effort to eliminate the deficit, the board recently passed another $1.3 million in budget cuts, which will mark the fourth consecutive year of reductions. Even with these cuts, pulling dollars from a dwindling reserve will be necessary to operate the district next school year. Spending from reserves, without any additional cuts, will eventually deplete the district funds.

We know that cuts are not easy, the board has tried to keep the reductions as far away from the
student educational experience as possible, but the need to keep cutting year after year has
made that nearly impossible. Since 2016, over $14 million in reductions have been made to the
operating budget for the district. Cuts started at the district level, with a reduction in
administrators, salary freezes, and decreased department budgets.

Managing a large unit-district like ours takes a robust and dedicated workforce. We employ over 2,500 individuals, delivering an exceptional education to over 18,000 students, in the 7th largest district in Illinois.

• District 308 Referendum Discussions Scheduled
• District 308 Asks For Tax Hike To Avoid Deep Budget Cuts

The cost of operating our school district is outpacing current funding. Before any additional cuts
that may impact our students’ educational experience are enacted, the board made the decision
to present an operating referendum to voters on April 2. The vote provides our community with a
voice in the future direction of the district. At its February 25 meeting, the Board of Education
voted on several specific items that will be reduced/reinstated should the referendum pass,
these include:

● Reducing to a $20 participation fee for all activity and club fees for kindergarten through
high school
● Zero fees for service and volunteer oriented clubs, honor societies, committees and
councils
● Reduction in high school sports fees by $50 per sport
● Resuming summer school transportation offering
● Reducing class size from 28 to 25 students for kindergarten through 2nd grade
● Reinstating the gifted education model for third grade students

We’ve worked hard to provide factual information on our website to inform you prior to the
election in April. On the website, you will find a calculator tool where you can figure your
property tax impact should the referendum pass. The estimated cost of the proposed
referendum is roughly $183 per year for a $200,000 home.

The Board the Education will host a special Town Hall Meeting to present the referendum to the
public, including public question/comment time. The meeting is March 11 at 6:30pm, at Oswego
East High School in the Community Room. We are also offering several other opportunities to
engage in dialogue with our district leaders at Community Conversations being held in three
locations: March 5 at the Oswego Public Library, 5:30-7pm; March 13 at Oswego Fire Protection
District Station 1, 5:30-7pm; and March 21 at the Oswegoland Park District Civic Center,
10:30am-12 pm.

It is our goal to provide you with factual information so that you can make an informed decision
on April 2. Attached you will find a list of our upcoming presentations, we hope to see you there.
Please visit www.sd308.org/referendum to access many helpful sources of information and to
send us your questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. John W. Sparlin
Superintendent of Schools
Oswego Community Unit School District 308