September 17, 2024
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Oswego School District Board extends superintendent’s contract in split, 4-3 vote

By Shea Lazansky

(FILE PHOTO) Oswego School District 308 Superintendent John Sparlin called on the community to spread the word about the vacancies in district positions during the Oct. 12 meeting of the Board of Education. (Shea Lazansky)

The Oswego School District 308 Board of Education voted 4-3 Monday evening, Nov. 15, to approve an amended employment contract with Superintendent John Sparlin.

The amendments serve to extend the life of the contract from the previously set June 30, 2022 expiration date to June 30, 2024.

Sparlin’s current base annual salary will remain at $214,365 for the additional two years of the contract. However, the contract will grant him two “non-elective employer contributions” of $17,652.86 each.

Sparlin will receive the first contribution for the period of July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023, and the second for the period of July 1, 2023 to the contract’s expiration on June 30, 2024.

The contributions are subject to Sparlin’s successful completion of satisfactory service during each of the two periods, according to the contract.

Board members Jennifer Johnson, Eugene Gatewood and LaTonya Simelton cast the negative votes on the motion to approve the amended contract.

Gatewood and Simelton both cited unspecified terms in the amended contract as reasons for their negative votes, while Johnson did not offer a public explanation.

Sparlin first joined the district in 2012 in the role of executive director for administrative services and was promoted to the role of assistant superintendent for administrative services in 2013. Sparlin was appointed superintendent on July 1, 2016.