Kendall County Times

Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Board of Education met Aug. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Board of Education of Community Unit School District 308, Kendall, Kane and Will Counties, Illinois, met in a regular session in the Community Room at Oswego East High School.

Note for file: All roll call votes are shown in alphabetical order in these minutes; however, during the Board Meeting votes are called out in accordance with Board Policy 2:220

1. Call to Order – Executive Session (4:45 p.m.)

The meeting was called to order at 4:51 p.m. by President Dominick Cirone.

1.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Amy Murillo, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

Dr. Heather Martin & Dr. Rovel Pollock

2. Closed Session

2.1 Enter Closed Session under statute(s) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1): The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of certain employees and individuals; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(10): The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11): Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

A motion was made by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, second by Ms. Erika Sieh, to enter Closed Session under statute(s) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1): The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of certain employees and individuals; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(10): The placement of individual students in special education programs and other matters relating to individual students; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11): Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 5-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Amy Murillo, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

The Board of Education entered closed session 4:53 p.m.

2.2 Return to Open Session

A motion was made by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, second by Dr. Amy Murillo, to return to Open session.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Heather Martin, Dr. Amy Murillo, Dr. Rovel Pollock, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

The Board of Education returned to open session at 6:34 p.m.

3. Call to Order – Public Session (6:30 pm)

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by President Dominick Cirone.

3.1 Roll Call:

Upon Roll Call the following members answered present:

Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Heather Martin, Dr. Amy Murillo, Dr. Rovel Pollock, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

Members Absent (at roll call):

Administration Present:

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Andalib Khelghati

Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Heather Kincaid

CFO/CSBO, Raphael Obafemi

Assistant Superintendent for Diverse Learners, Dr. Ivette Dubiel

Assistant Superintendent of HR, Dr. Markisha Mitchell

Assistant Superintendent of High Schools, Dr. Kristen Campbell

Assistant Superintendent of Schools – K-8, Dr. Jadon Waller

Chief Communications Officer, Theresa Komitas

Director of Finances, Amanda Sitar

Others Present:

Employees of the District and members of the community.

Representatives from Wight & Co: Nidhi Shah, Stuart Brodsky, Steve Shearer

Recording Secretary:

Brynn Pattermann

3.2 Pledge of Allegiance

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board President Cirone.

4. Student Spotlight

4.1 Rubik’s Cube Solving Demo

The Board of Education invited Brayden Thompson, a senior at OHS, who recently participated in the Cubing World Championships in Seattle. There, he placed 12th in the 3x3 blindfold category. Brayden has competed in 41 competitions across the United States, breaking several state records in the blindfold categories. Brayden delivered an impressive blindfolded Rubik’s Cube Solving Demonstration.

5. Presentations

5.1 Phase 2 Long Range Facility Plan (Stage 2)

Representatives from Wight & Co presented the Phase 2 Long Range Facility Plan – Stage 2. They outlined the three-phase planning process: facility condition assessment (completed), educational alignment (just completed), and upcoming solutions development. The team reviewed 22 district buildings serving approximately 16,800 students and analyzed them through four lenses: space organization & efficiency, learning environment, site/access, and safety/security.

Key findings for elementary, junior high, and high schools highlighted the need for more flexible, modern learning environments, enhanced safety, improved special education spaces, and expanded STEM and CTE offerings. Extension programs were found to need modernization to better serve multiple programs.

The presentation addressed building capacity, projected enrollment, and district-wide considerations including class sizes, early childhood programming, and special program placement. Phase 3 will focus on capital repairs, educational upgrades, renovations, and safety. Community engagement sessions are planned for September and October, with final board adoption expected in December. Dr. Khelghati and board members stressed the importance of creating facilities that reflect the district’s commitment to students.

Documents and complete audio can be accessed at the following link:

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

5.2 25-26 School Year Story – Beginning Highlights

6. Public Comment

6.1 Opportunity for the Public to address the Board of Education

Kelly Welch – Expressed safety concerns about a student with a history of assaulting others, including her own child, being allowed back on the school bus. Despite repeated attempts to contact transportation officials and the superintendent, she received no response. While the school principal tried to assist, they faced obstacles with the transportation department. Ms. Welch also highlighted overcrowded bus conditions—three students per seat. Oswego, IL – Hunt Club 630-973-9077

Michelle Trager - Thanked board members for attending school welcome events and staff for their responses to recent weather emergencies. She requested a parent survey about elementary curriculum nights, advocating for them to be held separately from preview nights—particularly for dual language programs. Ms. Trager recognized September as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month, noting its higher prevalence than autism (1 in 14) and emphasizing the potential impact on kindergarteners born during the pandemic. Trager urged staff training to improve identification and support for affected students. Montgomery, IL – Boulder Hill/Oswego High School 630-533-4170

Alicia Hansen - A 20-year district resident with two graduated children and one currently enrolled, expressed ongoing frustration with transportation issues that have persisted for four years. She reported buses from Churchill and Planck schools are consistently 30–45 minutes late, and her efforts to contact transportation officials and the central office have gone unanswered. When her son took an alternative bus route, officials declined to make the change official. Ms. Hansen emphasized two main concerns: the chronic transportation delays and the lack of a clear, responsive process for addressing parent concerns. Oswego, IL – Churchill/Plank 630-802-7632

Kelly Bernardoni - Described a first-day transportation incident where her daughter’s bus failed to stop at the designated stop, forcing her to chase it while leaving her four-year-old son with a stranger. Despite promptly reporting the issue, she received no response from transportation officials. Ms. Bernardoni noted that some children weren’t dropped off until after 7 PM—over three hours after school ended. Bernardoni questioned the district’s standards for handling transportation delays and called for clear, concrete steps to address these issues. Montgomery, IL – Boulder Hill 847-644-8035

Lidia Rodriguez - Parent of first and second graders at Churchill, shared her frustration over a last minute change to her daughter’s transportation eligibility. Less than a week before school began, she was informed that her daughter no longer qualified for transportation between school and daycare—a service her family had relied on for years. This change disrupted her family's routine, requiring adjustments to work schedules and an unsuccessful search for alternative daycare options with transportation. Ms. Rodriguez expressed concerns about the lack of timely communication, the unclear purpose of alternative pickup forms if daycare is excluded, and the burden such changes place on working families. Oswego, IL – Churchill 847-708-8466

7. Comments/Reports

7.1 Superintendent Report

As we gather for our first board meeting since the start of the school year, I want to share that our halls, and our hearts, are full. The board and I have had the privilege of visiting schools since the very first day, and we’ll continue making our way to every building in the days ahead. What stands out most as we visit is the dedication of our staff. We truly have incredible people in every corner of this district who are inspiring, leading, and making sure every child feels heard and seen. I am so proud to be part of this SD 308 family and excited to be part of writing this next chapter of our story.

Of course, the year also began with a significant challenge. Within the first few days, we faced flooding damage in several of our schools. Our operations teams, district leaders, and school staff put in countless hours to minimize the impact. I want to especially thank the Oswego East High School staff and students for pivoting to e-learning for two days while crews worked around the clock to dry and clean affected spaces. At Oswego High, we are disappointed that the main gym will remain closed for many weeks as repairs are completed. In addition, while unrelated to the storm, an urgent repair at Oswego East has taken the Performing Arts Center out of use for an extended period of time.

On a positive note, cooling units were successfully installed this weekend at Traughber Junior High. The units failed beyond repair earlier this summer, and we’ve been using a combination of temporary systems and creative solutions to keep the building comfortable.

These are not isolated challenges. Many of our facilities were built during the same era, which means systems are aging and requiring significant repairs and replacements at the same time. Years of deferred preventative maintenance, driven by financial constraints, are now showing up in very real ways.

That’s why tonight’s discussion on Phase II of our Master Facility Plan is so important. We must take a long-range, sustainable approach to ensuring our schools are not only safe and functional but also adaptable to the evolving needs of our students.

Through it all, what gives me confidence is the resilience of our staff, students, and families. Together, we face challenges head-on, and together, we continue building bright futures.

Finally, I am honored to share that this school year, the District celebrates the 20 year anniversary of the Dual Language Program. A dynamic program for students to become biliterate and multicultural in an increasingly globalized world. The Bilingual Parent Advisory Council (BPAC) will host a picnic to celebrate this milestone on Saturday, September 13, from 10am-12pm at the Prairie Point Pavilion. For additional information about the event, please visit the Multilingual Learners page on the website.

BOE Shout-Outs

President Cirone: Churchill Ogbegun, a third-grade student at Boulder Hill Elementary School, was recognized as part of the National Math Stars’ 2025 cohort. Churchill is part of a select group chosen from thousands of nominations who will receive a long-term package from this 10-year academic initiative that supports gifted young mathematicians. This is truly a life-changing experience. Congratulations, Churchill!

Ms. Robinson: Madison McNanna, a senior at OHS, has been selected to have her artwork on display as part of the Extra Credit Art Educator and Student Exhibition 2025 in Chicago. This exhibition, presented by ARTconnectED and ArtSpace Chicago, will feature an opening reception on Friday, September 5, and closing reception on Friday September 26. Congratulations, Madison!

Ms. Wenmouth: Delia Akyea, OEHS Class of 2025, received a silver medal from the 48th Annual Afro Academic, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics Awards Ceremony, hosted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Delia was recognized in the Earth & Space Science category with her project, “Soil Monitoring: Using Arduino Technology to Monitor Soil Moisture, pH, and CO2 Levels with Agricultural Contaminants.” Congratulations, Delia!

Dr. Martin: Prior to the first day of school, Hunt Club Elementary School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Stage: The Center for Creative Thinking! “The Stage” is a space for new ideas, problem-solving, collaboration, and living out Hunt Club’s school mission! We are excited to see how the Cougars utilize this room throughout this school year and beyond!

Ms. Sieh: Long Beach Elementary School has adopted a “house system,” which will allow them to group students into different teams for a number of activities. The Lions recently held a house sorting ceremony, where students spun a wheel to see which team they are now part of. We are eager to learn more about the teamwork and new connections to be formed as a result of these four houses!

Dr. Pollock: Jordan Ware and Kayla Haswell, freshmen at OEHS, were busy at work the last several months. They dedicated time to planning for and designing the beautiful new blacktop games at Long Beach Elementary School for their Girl Scouts Silver Project! Thank you for your contributions to the students of our district, Jordan and Kayla. We are proud of you!

Dr. Murillo: As a reminder, both OHS and OEHS are participating in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights Sweepstakes! Over the next several weeks, these schools will be looking for your help in posting to social media, particularly Instagram and X, using the hashtags #FN5GL and #Sweepstakes, as well as tagging the official T-Mobile and OHS and/or OEHS accounts. Check out both schools’ social media pages for more information!

7.2 Board Member Comments

Dr. Heather Martin - Expressed appreciation to the teams who responded to storm damage at the schools, acknowledging their round-the-clock efforts to prepare the buildings for students as quickly as possible.

Mary Jo Wenmouth – Shared her experience and involvement during recent school visits, noting that Old Post still remains to be visited.

Ms. Wenmouth congratulated Plank, other schools celebrating their 20th anniversary, and BPAC, noting that many schools reaching this milestone simultaneously highlights a significant period of growth in the area. Attended several community events, including Blue and Silver at East, Pantherfest at OH, and girls' flag football scrimmages, with plans to attend an upcoming game at OE.

Attended an open house at Gear it Forward Robotics at the Stone Hill Road location. Ms. Wenmouth noted a balanced gender participation, with approximately equal numbers of males and females—a notable shift from the previously male-dominated environment. Expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming season.

8. Consent Agenda

8.1 Approval of Minutes from previous Meeting

8.2 Acknowledgement of Freedom of Information (FOIA) Requests

8.3 Field Trips for Overnight and/or more than 200 miles

8.4 Acknowledgement of Donation

Questions were raised about accepting anonymous and religious-affiliated donations due to transparency and the separation of church and state. Dr. Khelghati recommended addressing the issue through the policy committee, while affirming the board’s authority over donation acceptance and appreciation for donor support.

A motion was made by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, second by Ms. Erika Sieh, to approve all items under consent, including 8.1 minutes from the Board of Education Meeting on August 11, 2025 open and closed sessions; 8.2 to acknowledge the FOIA requests received by the District; 8.3 to approve Field Trips for Overnight and/or more than 200 miles; 8.4 to acknowledge and accept a donation in the amount of $4,025 received by the district from an Anonymous Donor at Becoming to Support the ASCEND Student Equity Conference.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Heather Martin, Dr. Amy Murillo, Dr. Rovel Pollock, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

9. Information

9.1 Financial Information

Mr. Obafemi presented the financial information. The activity funds and budget memo were discussed, raising questions about reduced purchase services and a $500K increase in “other objects.” Mr. Obafemi explained the savings came from delayed spending, while the increase was due to out-of-district tuition

for special education. Dr. Dubiel and Dr. Khelghati emphasized that out-placement is a last resort and highlighted ongoing investments in programs like STARS to better support special education students within the district.

The financial information can be found at the following link:

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/Public

10. Action Items

10.1 Approval of Personnel Report

A motion was made by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, second by Ms. Erika Sieh to approve the Personnel Report as discussed and presented.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Heather Martin, Dr. Amy Murillo, Dr. Rovel Pollock, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

11. Adjournment

11.1 Adjourn

A motion was made by Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth, second by Ms. Erika Sieh, to adjourn. All were in favor unanimously to adjourn.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried 7-0

Aye: Mr. Dominick Cirone, Dr. Heather Martin, Dr. Amy Murillo, Dr. Rovel Pollock, Ms. Brandi Robinson, Ms. Erika Sieh, and Ms. Mary Jo Wenmouth

https://go.boarddocs.com/il/oswego308/Board.nsf/files/DKZLPJ578467/$file/08.25.25%20Draft%20Board%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf