MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020
Hello Collingswood and Oaklyn Families,
Since learning of Dr. Oswald's retirement, members of the Collingswood School Board, working with our Business Administrator Mrs. Coleman, formed an Ad Hoc committee tasked with determining the best path forward to hiring a new leader for our district.
Since forming, the committee has been in discussions with professional search firms and consultants to learn more about this process. We purposefully selected groups that know our district and have proven track records of hiring Superintendents that match the leadership needs of the community they will serve. It is the intent of the Board to partner with one of these external search groups in the coming days to start our search in earnest.
We have been fortunate to have Dr. Oswald leading our district for the past 14 years. Finding his successor will not be easy or fast. We will take the time, funds and actions necessary to find the right fit for Collingswood and Oaklyn. We look forward to engaging with the community and staff at different stages of this process and ensuring that your voice is heard. Thank you for your support.
Matthew Craig
Ad Hoc Committee Members:
Collingswood Board President- Fiona Henry
Collingswood Board Vice President- Regan Kaiden
Oaklyn Board President- William Stauts
Collingswood Board Member- Christine Sheridan Celia
Collingswood Board Member- Matthew Craig
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2020
Dear Oaklyn Residents:
It is with tremendous sadness that we acknowledge Dr. Scott Oswald's decision to retire from the Collingswood and Oaklyn School Districts.. Dr. Oswald has been the Oaklyn superintendent for approximately eight years with an incredible track record during that time. He has accomplished many improvements to the district including the following, but has always had the kids at the center of every decision he makes. Along with the able assistance of the business administrator, Beth Ann Coleman, he pulled Oaklyn back from the brink of bankruptcy when he first came onboard and has stabilized our financial position, was the driving force behind sending our sixth through ninth grades to Collingswood improving both our financial position and the options available to our students and spearheaded the recent bond issue providing the incredible physical improvements currently being made to the Oaklyn School for the benefit of our students and staff.
We wish Dr. Oswald the best in the future and thank him for the effort he has expended and the results he has achieved for the students and residents of Oaklyn. We can never thank him enough for his kids first approach to education and for the many improvements he has made in our curriculum and our test results. He has been an incredible asset to Oaklyn. We hope he has a long and successful retirement and wish him the best of luck in everything he does in his retirement. Retirement is probably not the best word as Dr. Oswald has very little down time and we are sure he will not be just sitting in his chair or walking his dog.
Our Board will work in conjunction with the Collingswood Board to move forward in securing a new superintendent for both districts. The Collingswood Board is the actual employer and Oaklyn is serviced by their superintendent by mutual agreement, as has been the case with Dr. Oswald. We will make every effort to help them in their search and to assure the selection of an individual compatible to both districts and that can carry forward the work of Dr. Oswald.
William T. Stauts
President
Oaklyn Board of Education