Clarity Corner
SD 308 is committed to keeping our staff, students, and families informed with accurate, up-to-date information. This page is a central resource for addressing misinformation, clarifying key topics, and answering common questions. We aim to foster transparency, trust, and open communication within our school community. Each topic area includes links and someone you can contact directly to discuss further. You’re also invited to submit questions or concerns to be addressed.
Check back regularly for updates and reliable insights on important district matters.
Where do the student athletic fees go?
The $300 athletic fee helps offset the costs of student athletics, including coaching stipends, officials, transportation, uniforms, athletic trainers, equipment, facility maintenance, lodging for postseason competitions, and association memberships. Additional costs include coach training, insurance coverage, software, and competition staffing. Expenses far exceed the fee collected, and supplementation with district funds is necessary for continued operation.
Schools must waive fees for low-income students and those experiencing homelessness, ensuring access to athletics despite financial hardship. While payments are not collected from these students, the school still incurs the costs of participation.
Committed to financial transparency, the district provides monthly and annual reports online, including budget details, audit reports, revenue and expenditure dashboards, and more (Finance Department page).
If you have additional questions or want to learn more, please contact Amanda Sitar, Director of Finance.
Email: asitar@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-3188
Why would an entire class evacuate if a student is acting out?
Students may exhibit erratic behavior for various reasons, including underlying disorders that, when triggered, can cause dysregulation. Safety is the top priority. If a student in crisis poses a risk to classmates, the class may be temporarily relocated to prevent injury and allow trained staff to intervene appropriately. Attempting to remove a student in distress from a full classroom can escalate the situation, increasing the risk of harm to the student and others.
The district prioritizes prevention by providing staff with professional development and training to recognize early warning signs and de-escalate situations before they become dangerous. If a student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a meeting may be held to assess whether their current placement remains appropriate. Students with special needs are entitled to an education in the least restrictive environment.
Parents concerned about a classroom relocating are encouraged to speak with their teacher about the situation. If additional conversation is needed, the school’s principals should be contacted. At the district level, the Schools Department is the best resource for assistance, their contact information is below.
Dr. Tammie Harmon, Executive Director of Elementary Education (Email: tharmon@sd308.org, Phone: (630) 636-3097)
Dr. Markisha Mitchell, Executive Director of Secondary Schools: (Email: mmitchell01@sd308.org, Phone: (630) 636-3080)
John Francis, Executive Director of Schools: (Email: jfrancis@sd308.org, Phone: (630) 636-4677) Did the district tell the Unity Fields project “no” to a proposal?
Representatives from SD 308, the Village of Oswego, and the Oswego Park District held several meetings with community members regarding a potential public-private partnership to develop athletic facilities. On October 7, 2025, the Board of Education directed the SD 308 Superintendent to request additional information from the Oswego Catalyst Group.
The district specifically requested:
- A detailed proposal
- A financial pro forma outlining the cost-benefit analysis
- Evidence of adequate investor support to ensure the facilities could be launched and maintained without taxpayer burden
However:
- The requested information was not provided
- Instead, the group requested $20,000 from each of the three public bodies ($60,000 total) to fund a feasibility study
- The proposed feasibility study company was the same entity being recommended for project management
- The public bodies were asked to commit these unbudgeted funds without standard procurement procedures
The public entities could not support this request due to:
- The significant unbudgeted expense
- The lack of a transparent and open process
- Concerns about fairness to other potential investors and developers
- The potential conflict of interest with the proposed feasibility study company
To be transparent and fair to the entire community, the district opened a Request for Proposal process in January, accepting ideas for the future of the “Old Traughber” property on Franklin. This is a common practice amongst public entities to ensure that agreements are unbiased and fair. One proposal was received; however, it was not from Unity Fields.
Please contact Raphael Obafemi, CFO and CSBO, for additional clarity.
Email: robafemi@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-3180
What is the role and authority of a Board of Education member?
In brief, the school board is a unit of local government, whose members are not paid. It establishes direction, goals, and priorities for a school district and determines policy, budget, leadership, and administration.
Through its written policies, the board directs and empowers the superintendent to function as chief executive officer in managing and carrying out the day-to-day district operations and decisions. The board studies the needs of students and the community and bases its decisions on those needs.
Because a school board is an elected governmental body, it can take action only by majority vote at a public meeting. An individual board member has no authority other than the right to cast a vote at such a meeting. The purpose of a school board meeting is to transact the legal business of the school district through discussion and voting among the members.
The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) has a guide to How School Boards Work and a resource on How a School Board Member Approaches the Job.
Please contact Ursula Studer, Board Secretary, for additional information or resources.
Email: ustuder@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-3084
Does the district have a contracted “DEI” company?
The district engages with several organizations to offer continued learning for staff. One of these organizations is The Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP) Center. Through a Memo of Understanding (MOU), the center provides resources without cost to the district; the only expense is reimbursement of travel for trainers when on-site training is provided.
The MAP center provides technical assistance and training to help staff create an environment where all students feel secure, respected, and free to fully engage in the activities, opportunities, and services our schools provide.
Supporting schools in sustaining learning environments free from harassment, discrimination, and bullying is the responsibility of every public school educator and staff member under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This federal law requires that schools and any publicly funded educational institutions create nondiscriminatory spaces where students of all races, colors, and national origins can feel safe.
Please contact Dr. Jadon Waller, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Engagement, with further questions.
Email: jwaller@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-4372
Why does the district request individuals to use the FOIA process when requesting information?
A school district would require individuals seeking information to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request process for several reasons:
School districts require individuals to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process to ensure compliance with state and federal transparency laws while protecting sensitive information. FOIA provides a formal, documented method for handling requests, ensuring consistency and legal timelines are met. It also allows the district to review and redact protected data, such as student or employee records, in line with laws like FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act).
Processing information requests can be time-consuming. The district uses the FOIA process to help manage requests efficiently, prioritize appropriately, and allocate resources effectively rather than responding to informal or ad-hoc inquiries. The district also publishes FOIA responses to reduce redundancy in requests. The impact of excessive demands for information can disrupt operations or burden staff time with unreasonable workloads.
Overall, the FOIA request process balances public access to information with the need to protect sensitive data, maintain efficiency, and ensure legal compliance.
Please contact Heather Mieloszyk, Administrative Assistant and District FOIA Officer, for further information.
Email: hmieloszyk@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-3664
What is the difference between a Hold-in-Place and a Lockdown response?
When a school calls “Hold-in-Place” it instructs students and staff to remain in their existing location and does not allow movement in hallways. This is most often used in situations that require staff intervention for a medical or behavioral crisis. It can also be used at times when it's necessary for administration and/or police to search the building.
Lockdown is the most serious response, it indicates an active threat taking place. The response of students and staff depends on the information available to them. It could include barricading in a classroom, evacuating the building (through doors or windows), and when absolutely necessary, countering the attacker. This response can result in a chaotic situation, when escaping an attacker is essential.
If you have additional questions, please contact Bailey Campbell, Director of Student Services for Special Programs, or Michael Frieders, Coordinator of School Safety and Security.
Bailey Campbell
Email: bcampbell@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-3485
Michael Frieders
Email: mfrieders01@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-4639
What if I have questions regarding what my child is learning in the classroom?
SD 308 encourages parents to reach out to their child’s school regarding questions they have concerning learning in the classroom. Communications between families and school staff is integral to a child’s success.
Generally speaking, questions or concerns regarding a child’s academic progress in a classroom should first be discussed with the child’s teacher. If your questions are not adequately addressed, or you have a concern about the school, it should be directed to the principal. If additional escalation of the concern is necessary, the first points of contact at the district would be the Schools Department or Learning and Innovation Department.
Following the proper chain of command process ensures that all parties involved are properly informed of the situation. The closer to the issue someone is, the easier it is to come to a resolution and/or institute change.
Please contact John Francis, Executive Director of Schools, or Dr. Kristen Paul, Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Innovation, for additional information.
John Francis
Email: jfrancis@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-4677
Dr. Kristen Paul
Email: kpaul01@sd308.org
Phone: (630) 636-3667
How does the district determine when to utilize the Emergency Learning Plan?
The decision to cancel in-person learning is never made lightly; however, the safety of students and staff is of the utmost importance to SD 308. The district closely monitors weather forecasts to make decisions as early as possible, prioritizing travel safety to/from school buildings. Our district is vast, covering over 68 square miles, with several rural areas where blowing and drifting snow can make travel on untreated surfaces difficult.
It can be frustrating to parents if forecasts don’t bring the winter weather predicted, but waiting unit the last minute isn’t ideal for parents, or staff when having to make changes to the schedule. We know that no matter the decision, there will be people disappointed, its certainly a difficult call to make! We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of students, families, and staff when we utilize Emergency Learning Plans.
Questions? School principals can address many questions about schedules. However, you are welcome to contact the Schools Team for additional information:
Dr. Tammie Harmon, Executive Director of Elementary Education (Email: tharmon@sd308.org, Phone: (630) 636-3097)
Dr. Markisha Mitchell, Executive Director of Secondary Schools: (Email: mmitchell01@sd308.org, Phone: (630) 636-3080)
John Francis, Executive Director of Schools: (Email: jfrancis@sd308.org, Phone: (630) 636-4677)
