Oswego School District 308 parent Crystal Casper called on the newly-sworn-in members of the Board of Education to do better for the district’s families during a meeting Monday evening, May 10, at Oswego East High School.

Speaking on behalf of her family and “thousands of parents who couldn’t be here,” Casper told the Board that “the district has failed our children.”

“Parents should not have to beg and plead for their children to simply attend in-person instruction. Children belong in the classroom five full days a week,” she continued.

Casper told the board she understood the need for a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic “but the shutdown should have been temporary. Instead it turned into losing most of the year.”

Updated guidelines for public schools were released by the Illinois State Board of Education in March, loosening some prior pandemic-related restrictions.

“We finally had a glimmer of hope,” Casper said. “Many emails were written to the Board and (Superintendent) Dr. (John) Sparlin, hoping our kids could have gotten more in-person learning, but we were quickly shut down by the board and told ‘No more changes.’ This has left us wondering if there really was ever a plan to reopen the schools. While other schools seemed to quickly adapt to the new changes and guidelines, SD308 did nothing and continued to fail our children.”

Citing “current news” regarding teachers unions “fighting to keep schools closed,” Casper said she “certainly hope(s) this isn’t the case” with District 308.

“Unfortunately with the current in-person instruction that is being offered to our children, in my opinion, this remains a questionable subject,” she added.

Prior to the meeting, Casper said her son, a high school student, told her he would prefer to finish the school year in remote learning.

“I asked him why, and he said ‘No one talks to each other. You can’t hear people speak in class because of the masks.’ He said that it’s no different than being home, because they’re literally sitting at their desk in school on their ChromeBook, interacting with people that way.

“What is the point of being in school if this is how it’s going to be?” she asked. “We are doing so much damage to our children’s social and emotional health. They need to interact with peers. I honestly miss seeing them smile and laugh, getting hugs, high fives, and going to sporting events, having fun. I miss seeing them happy.”

Casper told the new members of the Board that it is “our hope” that they “address these issues and work to restore the trust of the community. All we ask is simply to show us that you care about our children, and we will do the best for them.”

Casper continued by voicing her concerns over what she described as the “extreme mismanagement of money” in the district.

“We pay some of the highest real estate taxes in the state of Illinois, yet our district is dangerously underfunded,” she said. “There has been an extreme mismanagement of money in the district and it continues to negatively impact our children. While raises are being dished out, programs and services are being cut.”

Casper, who said she works as an accountant, filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the audited 2019 and 2020 financial records of the district.

After reviewing the records, “It has come to my attention that we are over budget on salaries alone by $7 million dollars.”

When asked later about Casper’s statement, Chief Financial Officer Christi Tyler explained that the district budgeted $139.1 million for salaries, but the audit showed $140.7 million.

However, about $1 million is built into the district’s “Other Objects” expenses category, for positions that are filled throughout the school year. $1 million, she explained is less than .5% of the district’s total operating expenses for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

Besides the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, only three funds in the district have salaries and benefits: Education, Operations & Maintenance, and Transportation.

“The outcome is grim if we continue to pay for things we can’t afford,” Casper said, adding that she encouraged all parents in the district to become more involved.

“It is past time the board and school district are held accountable for their actions. We demand transparency and honest discussions in order to address these situations and fix this horrible mess,” she said.

While district administrators have stated repeatedly that students will be in school for five full days a week in the 2021-2022 school year, releasing a first look at the plan during the May 10 meeting, Casper said she doesn’t believe administrators.

“I’ve received several emails from the district stating school is going to be full time next year,” she said. “I have no faith in you guys that you will do that. Even if it does happen, what restrictions will our children be subject to this time? I implore you to prove us wrong. Our kids deserve better.”