HR1361 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1361 LRB095 21546 GRL 51359 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor the faculty, staff, and administration of Traughber Junior High for their many years of dedicated service to the citizens of Oswego Community Unit School District 308; and

WHEREAS, On May 31, 1946, voters in Oswego High School District 300 approved the construction of a new high school by a vote of 426-65; the new school was to be located on land already purchased and being used as the high school athletic fields at Franklin and Washington Streets in Oswego; post-war delays and the need for more funds delayed construction of the main building until 1949; and

WHEREAS, In April of 1951, Oswego's new large, modern brick high school building opened; the size of the school was strongly criticized by many in the farm community as being too large and too lavish; the school, however, saw rapid growth of the combined grade and high school districts' 1951 student population of about 590 students as it grew threefold over the following 10 years; and

WHEREAS, Oswego's high school had been built to allow for the addition of a junior high school wing to the south; in March of 1952, voters turned down a proposition to add the new wing by a 2-1 margin; the following year, the grade and high school boards brought a similar proposal back to the voters, which was approved by a margin of 480-300 votes; and

WHEREAS, The new wing of Oswego's high school, designed to house seventh and eighth graders, was opened in 1954; the opening proved timely, with school enrollment on the first day of classes in 1955 totaling 775 students, an increase of 90 students above the previous year and a new record for the district; and

WHEREAS, As early as 1962, it was obvious the existing high school on Franklin Street was far too small for the district's growing student population; after a site was obtained from the Gerry family across Route 71 from East View School, voter approval was received to build a new high school, with construction beginning in 1963; after the opening of the new high school, the old high school on Franklin Street had its name changed to Oswego Junior High and became home to seventh, eighth, and ninth graders; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Oswego High School District 300 added one more building to the district, a junior high school, to handle the slow yet steady growth in the school district; construction began on the new school on a site at Boulder Hill Pass and Lombardy Lane near U.S. Route 34 in 1975; in addition, a large addition, including a new learning center and several classrooms, was added to the old Oswego Junior High at the same time; before the new junior high opened, the school district decided to name the old junior high after long-time school superintendent Thomas Lloyd Traughber; and

WHEREAS, Traughber Junior High was home to nearly 800 students in sixth through eighth grade; beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, the building will begin to be used as the district's administration center and as a special education center, enabling the district's oldest building still in service to continue to serve the students of the Oswego School District for many years to come; and

WHEREAS, A closing ceremony for Traughber Junior High will be held in June of 2008 to commemorate this venerable school and its place in the rich history of the Village of Oswego; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the faculty, staff, and administration of Traughber Junior High for their many years of dedicated service and wish them continued success and happiness in their future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Oswego Community Unit School District 308 Superintendent Dr. David Behlow as a symbol of our esteem and respect.