School Districts Considers Name Change

OSWEGO, IL — School District 308 share a name with two others in the state. That leads to confusion and disconnect, says former superintendent Dr. Terry Tamblyn. He’s helped circulate a petition that has so far gathered 650 signatures to put the ‘Oswego’ back in School District 308's title. In 2014, the school board voted in favor of a new logo design. Upon further discussion from the board, questions emerged about what, exactly, that 2014 rule established. That's why the board has taken precautions moving forward. The lengthy Monday evening discussion included a presentation of historical documents from Tamblyn that showed when the district had undergone geographic and name changes. School district 308 currently covers Oswego, parts of Aurora, Montgomery, Yorkville, Plainfield and Joliet, according to its website. Tamblyn acknowledges it may not be the most important thing on the board’s agenda, but it’s still worthy of their attention.

“Words matter. Connections matter. If the goal of the name is to broadly encompass and emphasize the segments of the district, then depersonalizing the name to SD 308 achieves that goal,” says Tamblyn. “Our goal is to … put Oswego back on our school buses.”

Board member Toni Morgan asked, “If you had the opportunity to choose between paying for some staff that would work with students or using the money to change the logo right now, which one would you choose?” Tamblyn chose the staff and clarified he wouldn’t change the logo, just the name, especially on buses. Another board member pointed out that some members in other communities may have felt alienated in the past with the “Oswego” name attached to the school district.

So, what’s in a name? Most of the board found common ground with certain elements of the proposal, though none were fully on board with a brand overhaul. Questions with the logo, branding, official names, printing costs and putting ‘Oswego’ on buses took up most of the conversation. To clarify the murky details, and to not repeat the unclear vote in 2014, the board gave direction to a separate policy committee. That committee will create a more defined motion for further board review, and possibly a vote. The board agreed, any changes to letterheads or bus logos should be cost-neutral.

The next Board of Educator meeting will take place Nov. 11 at 7:15 p.m. in the community room of Oswego East High School.

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