OSHKOSH, WI – (WISS)- While over 120 Wisconsin school districts are going to referendum on the November 5th ballot, the Oshkosh Area School District is just now considering the referendum route. Over the next few months, the school district will hold listening sessions with residents and will work to decide if they will ask voters for $195 Million in spring.
| Date | Time | Location |
| Tuesday, September 24 | 6:30 PM | South Park Middle School |
| Monday, September 30 | 6:30 PM | North High School |
| Thursday, October 10 | 6:30 PM | Vel Phillips Middle School |
| Wednesday, October 16 | 6:30 PM | Menominee Elementary School |
| Tuesday, October 29 | 6:30 PM | Oakwood Elementary School |
Bryan Davis, Superintendent of Oshkosh Area School District, said that the referendum will seek funding to consolidate west side district schools, update buildings to make sure they are ADA-compliant, and build a new auditorium at North High School.
“Two of our schools on the west side are either 100 years old or older,” said Davis. “South Park Middle School is really the focus of this referendum. The original part of that building is 120 years old. We’ve got galvanized piping – That’s packed in asbestos – That’s packed in brick walls – That has a tendency to leak.”
Davis said declining enrollment brings the need for consolidation in order for the school district to remain efficient. Historically there have been 10,000 students in Oshkosh schools. Now there are 9,000.
“So when you’re looking at a thousand students less and the service of those students – It’s not efficient for us to run 20 buildings and serve a thousand less students. So we have a better model proposed for us to get down to 15 buildings,” Davis said.
Referendum projects
The school district said The referendum is expected to make the following projects possible:
- Replace or renovate South Park Middle School
- Build a new auditorium at North High School
- Repurpose Perry Tipler Middle School as an alternative school site and recreation offices.
- Close the downtown recreation center building
- Close Roosevelt Elementary School
- Expand Carl Traeger, Franklin, and Oakwood Elementary schools to accommodate 600 students.
- Convert Shapiro STEM Academy to a 4K center.
Bryan said because the district paid off its former debts there would be no increase in the school tax levy due to the referendum.
The Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education will receive additional updates about the possible referendum during its November meeting. It will then decide in January if it will place the referendum on the April 2025 ballot.
Information about the referendum can be found here: oshkosh.k12.wi.us/facilities
Tommy Thompson says he hopes to push Trump, GOP toward unity
9/19/2024 | Andrew Bahl/The Capital Times
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson said Wednesday he hopes to use his
support for former President Donald Trump to push Republicans to find
unity and work with DemocratsDoris Kearns Goodwin speaks in Madison, recalls life
9/19/2024 | Erin McGroarty / The Capital Times
Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin spoke at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Wednesday night during the eighth annual Cap Times Idea Fest.
AARP Wisconsin Poll Shows Importance of 50+ Voters
9/19/2024 | Jo Ann Krulatz
A new AARP Wisconsin presidential poll again shows the importance of voters age 50 and older. Jeff Liszt (list) is a pollster, and partner at Impact Research. There are trends both state wide and among older voters since there has been a change in the Democratic ticket. Liszt says there are also differences in demographics. […]
Milwaukee Teamsters Back Harris Despite National Union’s Neutrality
9/19/2024 | Stuart J. Wattles
The president of Joint Council 39 called Harris the vice president “of the most pro-union administration ever”.
Veteran-Run Nonprofit Seeks Community Support to Keep Food Pantry Open
9/19/2024 | Stuart J. Wattles
The Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative is facing a critical shortage
