March 28, 2024
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Five candidates file petitions to run for Oswego School District Board seats

One-week petition filing period concludes next Monday, Dec. 21

Five first-time candidates have filed petitions to run for four open seats on the Oswego School District 308 Board of Education in the April 6 election.

Petition filing for the election began Dec. 14 and will close Dec. 21. Candidates have been able to circulate petitions to have their names placed on the April ballot since Sept. 22. Statement of candidacy forms, as well as petition slips can be found on the Illinois Association of School Boards website.

The five candidates who filed petitions on Dec. 14 include Jennifer Johnson, 4610 McLaren Dr, Oswego; Eugene L. Gatewood, 1958 Congrove Drive, Aurora; Donna Marino, 2602 Whitethorn Drive, Aurora; Eulalia Valdez, 514 Rosebush Lane, Oswego; and LaTonya Simelton, 428 Bayberry Drive, Oswego.

Simelton is currently employed as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Coordinator for the district, and works with the Board of Education's Equity Advisory Committee, formed in 2020. No other candidates serve on board committees.

The Board of Education consists of seven members and has a president, vice president and secretary - positions voted on internally by members of the new board. The board's role, as described on the district is to, "Develop and adopt goals and policies that meet state and local requirements, provide the resources necessary to pursue its goals according to its policies, and monitor district performance to see that results are consistent with goals and policies."

Duties of the board include: Approve curriculum and textbook selection, approve new personnel and salaries, provide and maintain school buildings, award contracts and approve bills, and to arrange for the revenue necessary to operate the district.

The Board of Education also has four advisory committees considering a variety of matters to the board and district. Committees are Finance and Facilities, Policy Development and Legislative, Teaching and Learning, and Equity. Two board members serve as co-chairs for each committee.

Board members receive no compensation for their service.

This story will be updated.

Shea Lazansky

Shea Lazansky

Oswego native, photographer and writer for Kendall County Now