Community Focus Group and Thought Exchange
Community Focus Group and Thought Exchange: Follow–Up CommunicationSeptember 27, 2022
Dear Oswego City School District Community,
I am writing to follow up about a Thought Exchange community survey and a Community Focus Group that were initiated as a result of the district’s recently completed four-part comprehensive efficiency study.
Thought Exchange
This week, the district will be sending out the Thought Exchange survey to solicit anonymous feedback from the community about the recent study and its findings. This portion of the study recommends that the district consider repurposing Frederick Leighton Elementary School.
To gain as much information as we can from our community, we are requesting that all parents and/or guardians participate in this survey. The survey will begin September 27, 2022 and will be closed by noon October 4, 2022. All information received from the survey will be compiled and shared with the Board of Education and the community. In addition, survey results will also be posted to the district webpage.
Community Focus Group
The district will also be hosting a Community Focus Group on October 15, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Oswego High School Cafeteria. This focus group involves community members coming together to discuss the possibility of repurposing Frederick Leighton Elementary School and other recommendations which were put forth by study consultants. The goal of the focus group is to allow for community members to share their thoughts on these recommendations. Information garnered from community stakeholders from this focus group will be shared with the BOE and the community at an October board meeting. It should be noted, in an effort to ensure transparency, this focus group will be live-streamed and recorded for the public to view.
Who will facilitate the Community Focus Group?
To assist participants of the community focus group two consultants, Dr. Suzanne Gilmour and Dr. Maureen Patterson, will be facilitating this meeting. Both of these consultants have experience with leading community focus groups and work for Castallo and Silky LLC.
Who can participate in the Community Focus Group?
In an effort to gain a broad perspective and feedback from the community, the following community members are sought after to participate in this activity:
| Participants Sought After | Information |
| Parents and/or Guardian Grades K-6 | 2 per elementary school (must live in FPS, FLS, CER, MIN and KPS catchment area) – total of 10 |
| Parents and/or Guardian Grades 7-8 | 1 per elementary catchment area (must live in FPS, FLS, CER, MIN and KPS catchment area) – total of 5 |
| Parent and/or Guardian Grades 9-12 | 1 per elementary catchment area (must live in FPS, FLS, CER, MIN and KPS catchment area) – total of 5 |
| “Empty Nesters” – community residents who do not have children that attend school in the district | 1 per elementary catchment area (must live in FPS, FLS, CER, MIN and KPS catchment area) – total of 5 |
| Faculty | 1 per school – total of seven (FPS, FLS, CER, MIN, KPS, OMS, OHS) |
| Support Staff | 1 per school – total of seven (FPS, FLS, CER, MIN, KPS, OMS, OHS) |
| Central Administration Support Staff | 2 support staff members total |
| Business – Community Leaders | 4 total (business owners, legislators, religious leaders, etc.) |
How do I apply to be on the Community Focus Group?
All community members who are interested in being part of the community focus group should complete the attached application and return it to the Superintendent’s office no later than noon on October 10, 2022. Once applications are received and reviewed, community members will be notified as to whether they have been selected to participate in the focus group — no later than October 11, 2022.
Applications can be dropped off to the Superintendent or emailed to the District’s Clerk, Mrs. Karen Canale, at Kcanale2@oswego.org.
It is the District’s hope that community members will participate in either the focus group and/or the upcoming Thought Exchange. The feedback of the community is invaluable as we consider future decision-making.
Should any of you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 315-341-2001.
Yours in Education,
Mathis Calvin III, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
