SD308 History & Timeline
Community Unit School District 308 covers approximately 68 square miles and includes all of Oswego, as well as portions of Aurora, Joliet, Montgomery, Plainfield, and Yorkville. The following timeline provides a synopsis of the many changes that have taken place since the first school in the district opened. The district continues to see growth as residential building is ongoing.
1833 - OSWEGO TOWNSHIP is SETTLED
1834 - VILLAGE OF OSWEGO is named
1834 - VILLAGE OF OSWEGO is named
1833 - OSWEGO TOWNSHIP is SETTLED
1834 - VILLAGE OF OSWEGO is named
1834 - VILLAGE OF OSWEGO is named
1833 - 1834
Oswego Township was settled in 1833; Village of Oswego in 1834.
1837
First school was established in the form of a Log Cabin with its one teacher being George Washington Kellogg.
1852
After holding classes in a series of borrowed buildings, the “Old Stone School” is constructed at the northwest corner of Tyler and Monroe Streets in Oswego.
1867
The “Oswego Seminary” becomes the first high school after residents vote to renovate the old courthouse building at the corner of where the current Village Green Park, Oswego Community Bank, and Oswego Post office are located.
1885
The Old Stone School is gutted by fire, and students are temporarily housed in the Oswego Seminary. Because the Old Stone School is also deteriorating, it is demolished at the end of the school year, and the Red Brick School is built on the same site for approximately $10,000. The building consists of four large classrooms to house both elementary and secondary students.
1887
Five students become the first graduates of the district; the Class of 1900 saw four young women graduate; and the Class of 1903 was the first African-American to graduate from Oswego High School.
1915
The school district buys the church about a block from the Red Brick School. The church became known as the “Little White School House”.1936
Voters decided to create the Oswego Community High School District (which included Oswego Township, 14 Sections of NaAuSay Township, 6 Sections of Bristol Township, and 7.5 Sections of Wheatland Township located in Will County).
1940
The enrollment for the students during the school year of 1939-1940 was 115 students.
(1948-1968) Superintendent of Schools:
T. Loyd Traughber
(1948-1968) Superintendent of Schools:
T. Loyd Traughber
T. Loyd Traughber
1948
A modern high school with a cafeteria, allowing hot lunches to be served for the first time, is constructed at Franklin and Washington Streets in Oswego, currently District 308 Center.
1951
District student population: 590.
1955
A separate, but attached Junior High wing was added to the high school.
1957
To handle a growing post-war population growth, East View Elementary was opened. This school received its name from a 5th grade student-contest winner.
1961
Boulder Hill Elementary opens to handle the influx of students from the new subdivision. District student population: 1,768. In May of this year, voters approve to consolidating all schools into a Unit District.
1964
The new Oswego High School opens on Route 71 across from East View. The former high school became Oswego Junior High.
1965
The Red Brick School is demolished and the Little White School is used as storage.
1966
An Annex is added to East View Elementary which will serve as Fifth and Sixth Grade classrooms as eill as the District’s Administration Center.
(1968-1970) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Robert Boggs
Dr. Robert Boggs
(1968-1970) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Robert Boggs
Dr. Robert Boggs
1967
Long Beach Elementary opens.
(1970-1985) Superintendent of Schools:
John Bednarcik
John Bednarcik
(1970-1985) Superintendent of Schools:
John Bednarcik
John Bednarcik
1971
District student population has now doubled in 10 years from 1,768 to 3,497.
1972
The Early Childhood Special Education program starts with one classroom at Long Beach Elementary.
1977
Thompson Junior High is constructed on Boulder Hill Pass and named after long-time music and band teacher Reeve R. Thompson. Oswego Junior High is renamed Traughber Junior High after long-time school superintendent Thomas L. Traughber.
(1985-1992) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Terry Tamblyn
Dr. Terry Tamblyn
(1985-1992) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Terry Tamblyn
Dr. Terry Tamblyn
1986
Early Bird/At Risk Preschool Program is launched.
1987
Voters approve a $14-million bond issue for additions and renovations to each of the district’s six buildings.
1991
Student population: 4,300.
(1992-1993) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Joyce Saldana
Dr. Joyce Saldana
(1992-1993) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Joyce Saldana
Dr. Joyce Saldana
(1993-2002) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Karl Plank
Dr. Karl Plank
(1993-2002) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Karl Plank
Dr. Karl Plank
1994
The Academically Talented (AT) program begins.
1997
Old Post Elementary opens.
1998
A $47.5-million referendum is passed to renovate existing buildings and construct two additional elementary schools.
2001
Wheatlands Elementary and Fox Chase Elementary open.
Student population: 6,865.
(2002-2008) Superintendent of schools:
dr. david behlow
dr. david behlow
(2002-2008) Superintendent of schools:
dr. david behlow
dr. david behlow
2002
Bednarcik Junior High and Homestead Elementary open in the Aurora area. Voters approve a $155- million referendum to build up to seven new schools, including a second high school.
2004
Oswego East High School (OEHS) and Lakewood Creek Elementary open. Early Childhood Special Education has 10 classrooms, an office, and a gross motor room housed at OEHS.
2005
Three new elementary schools open—Prairie Point, Churchill, and Wolf’s Crossing. District student population: 12,689.
2006
Plank Junior High opens in Churchill subdivision and is named after former school superintendent Dr. Karl Plank. Voters approve a $450-million referendum to finance the construction of five additional schools as well as renovate and expand nine existing buildings.
2007
Grande Park Elementary and Brokaw Early Learning Center open.
(2008-2012) Superintendent of Schools:
Dan O’Donnell
Dan O’Donnell
(2008-2012) Superintendent of Schools:
Dan O’Donnell
Dan O’Donnell
2008
Traughber Junior High School opens a new building and is named after longtime superintendent Thomas Loyd Traughber. Southbury Elementary opens. The old Traughber Junior High becomes the District 308 Center.
2009
Both Hunt Club Elementary and Murphy Junior High open. (Murphy Junior High served as Opportunity School and G.O.A.L. Program school until 2012.) The junior high is named after Oswego native Robinson Barr Murphy, the youngest man ever to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
2011
School District 308 celebrates the 50-year anniversary of the 1961 consolidation of High School District 300 and Elementary School District 8.
(2012-2016) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Matthew Wendt
Dr. Matthew Wendt
(2012-2016) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Matthew Wendt
Dr. Matthew Wendt
2012-2013
SD 308 Board of Education voted 5-2 to approve the Boundary Committee Recommendations for the 2012-2013 School Year.
2012
School District 308 leadership balances $7.5 million budget through strategic fiduciary reductions, spending freezes, budget analysis, and programming audits.
2013
District student population: 17,163. Teachers with advanced degrees: 895.
(2016-2023) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. John Sparlin
Dr. John Sparlin
(2016-2023) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. John Sparlin
Dr. John Sparlin
2017-2018
SD 308 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve new school boundaries which approved the recommendation that all current sixth and seventh grade junior high school students would stay at their respective schools moving forward.
2019
Referendum to offset a projected multi-million dollar budget deficit and prevent the need for additional fee hikes and budget and personnel cuts fails by 326 votes.
(2023-Present) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Andalib Khelghati
Dr. Andalib Khelghati
(2023-Present) Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Andalib Khelghati
Dr. Andalib Khelghati
