Newsletter March 14, 2025

Making an Informed Decision: April 1 School Referendum Approaches

We’re just weeks away from a significant moment for our schools—the upcoming vote on the Oshkosh Area School District’s (OASD) $197.8 million facilities referendum. This plan is about more than just buildings—it’s about creating better learning environments and opportunities for our students, improving safety and Americans with Disabilities (ADA) access limitations, and saving money through operational efficiencies, all while maintaining a $0 tax increase to the debt levy. This referendum represents the next step in our community-developed facilities consolidation plan, which began in 2017 and has already delivered significant improvements through Phase 1. 

As members of our school community, we know you may have questions or hear questions from others about what this means for our schools. We want to ensure you have the facts and an understanding of the plan before you cast your vote on April 1! 

What Will Your Vote Decide?

If the Referendum is Approved:

• A new consolidated middle school will be built at the Shapiro site (close South Park and Perry Tipler, reducing from three to two westside middle schools)
• Carl Traeger, Franklin, and Oakwood Elementary schools will be expanded and renovated (close Roosevelt and Shapiro, reducing from seven to five westside elementary schools)
• Perry Tipler Middle School will be converted into a pre-kindergarten center and recreation department
• A new auditorium will be added to Oshkosh North High School
• Air conditioning will be installed at Emmeline Cook, Lakeside, and Read Elementary schools
• The district will close and seek to sell South Park Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and the downtown recreation center
• Non-district pre-kindergarten leases will be eliminated (approximately $550,000 annual savings)

WATCH! Here is a 3-minute video explaining the scope of our April 1 Facilities Referendum.

If the Referendum is Not Approved:

First and foremost, the OASD will seek community feedback to understand why it did not pass. After review, a process will be developed to adjust accordingly - with the next opportunity to go to referendum being April 2026. Additionally:

• South Park students will remain in a 120-year-old building located within a restricted flight zone
• Virtual learning would be required during emergency repairs at South Park due to insufficient space at other schools
• Shapiro STEM Academy will still close after the 2025-2026 school year due to low enrollment (Note: Shapiro will close regardless of the referendum outcome)
• Planned facilities improvements will not be made
• Annual operational savings from consolidation will not be realized
• Construction costs are projected to increase by 5% annually, potentially raising the project cost from $198M now to $242M by 2029

Upcoming Information Sessions

There are still several opportunities to learn more and ask questions before the vote. Visit oshkosh.k12.wi.us/referendum-2025/information-sessions for a list of upcoming dates - including information sessions and informal Q&A drop-in sessions.

WATCH! This 30-minute presentation is available for anyone who is not able to attend an information session. 

Voting Information

• Election Day: Monday, April 1, 2025
• Voter Registration: Visit Myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Voter-Registration 
• Early Voting Options:
  • Absentee ballots can be requested through Friday, March 28 by 5:00 PM
  • Municipalities will begin mailing absentee ballots no later than March 11
  • In-person early voting begins March 18 at your local municipal clerk's office (check directly for office hours)

Learn More

For more detailed information about the referendum, including FAQs, videos, floor plans and project details, visit the district's dedicated webpage: oshkosh.k12.wi.us/referendum-2025. You can also contact the district directly with questions at 920.424.0395 or referendum@oshkosh.k12.wi.us.

Parent advisory committee will be meeting April 9 at 5:00 in the North Auditorium. If you have any concerns or topics  you would like to discuss please complete the google form to add them to the agenda.

Class of 2025 please keep on eye on the "SENIOR FAMILIES" section under the families (on the home page) drop down for important dates and graduation information.

Watch your email the last week of March for the ADA seating request form.

Please click on the link below for Oshkosh North Athletic Department news and important information.  Thank you for your support of Oshkosh North Athletics.

Athletic "School Store" Directions in a glance

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CALLS REGARDING ATTENDANCE SHOULD BE MADE DIRECTLY TO THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE AT 424-0288. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE MAIN OFFICE NUMBER WITH YOUR ATTENDANCE CALLS. The Attendance office receives a high volume of calls particularly in the morning. If your call is not answered please leave a message. For ATTENDANCE messages after 3:30PM, dial 424-0288 and leave a voicemail message. Students who anticipate an upcoming absence from school should also contact the Attendance Office.

Please click on the link below for Attendance Office procedures and reporting an absence:

Oshkosh North Attendance Office Procedures and Reporting an Absence

Oshkosh North is looking for interested parents to join the Oshkosh North Parent Advisory Committee.  Advisory members are particularly focused on how to increase parent and family engagement to ensure student academic success and to build Spartan Pride within our community.

This panel will meet 3-4 times a year, starting in September.  The hope of this panel is to share exciting updates from our North Community and hear feedback from families on new policies, projects, and changes that impact students and their families. The dates we will be meeting will be: Sept. 18; Nov. 6, Jan. 22 & April 9 at 5:00pm in the North Auditorium at North. Please enter door #7.

If you are interested in joining the Parent Advisory Committee at North, please contact Mrs. Last, Oshkosh North Principal.

In an effort to improve safety and overall efficiency of traffic flow during before school and after school we ask that parents/guardians pick up their student in either the East or West parking lots. Please do not use the circle drive on Smith Ave as Kobussen school buses use this area to pick up and drop off students. We thank you for your understanding as we continue to work to ensure student safety during the before school and after school pick up times. 

HIGH SCHOOL MEAL SERVICES

2024-2025

All students at the High Schools are able to eat 1 free breakfast combo and 1 free lunch combo.

A LA CARTE SERVICE AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS is available to all students who have money in their food account or cash along to pay at the registers.  A la carte items are NOT included with the meals and must be purchased using their Food Service Account (if there is money in their account) or with cash at the register. A la carte items include but are not limited to chips, juice drinks, ice cream, cookies, and PB & J uncrustables.  Extra entrees would be included as an a la carte item. (example of an extra entrée would be an extra slice of pizza etc). All items sold from Food Service follow the nutritional guidelines put forth by the Federal Government.

APPLICATIONS FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS will be available online on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal in mid-July and will also be mailed out in the US mail to all households in mid-July.  Please return your completed application to the Food Services Office, Oshkosh West High School, 375 N. Eagle St., Oshkosh, WI  54902, or the School Office your child attends on or before the first day of school.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM The food service department is seeking individuals to work for our department serving breakfast and / or lunch. The majority of these positions available are 1.5 - 2 hours in length and are during the breakfast and lunch service time, which varies with the school.  Opportunities for longer shifts and additional hours may also be available.  Please see the WECAN at https://wecan.education.wisc.edu website for employment opportunities along with applying for positions within the Food Service Department.

Please call 424-4936 with any questions.

Please click on the link below to view the Oshkosh Area School District Teacher and Student calendar for 2024-25:

OASD Teacher and Student Calendar 2023-24

Please click on the link below to view the OASD High School Planning and Course Guide for 2024-25:

OASD High School and Course Planning Guide 2024-25

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day a written request is received.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. The right to know that school districts can disclose education records to each other without parent consent if student is enrolling or transferring to another district.
5. The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by a school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202

Note: For a review of additional details for each of the above items, please go to the following website: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa.index.html

OASD Visitor Management System - effective September 1, 2023
● A universal procedure for visitor check in/check out will be implemented at all OASD schools
starting September 1, 2023.
● All visitors will check in at the Chromebook kiosk station where they will submit their name,
reason for visit, and location they are reporting to in the building.
● All visitors will be issued a badge that will be returned upon check out.
● All visitors will check out at the Chromebook kiosk station.
● Students will also check in/check out at the Chromebook kiosk station during the school day.
● This new procedure gives accurate information and location of visitors in the building,
provides a listing of all adults in the building, and provides a list of students checking in/out in
one document.
 

We appreciate your willingness to volunteer your time. Please work directly with the school you would like to volunteer regarding any questions you may have about your application and its status. Please note that a volunteer application only needs to be filled out one time per school year regardless if you want to volunteer in multiple schools. If you are selected to volunteer, please let the school secretary know that you have completed this form. By completing and submitting this form you agree to the following statement:

"I authorize the Oshkosh Area School District to conduct a full and complete criminal background check. I understand that any misrepresentation on this statement may result in immediate disqualification for any volunteer service within the Oshkosh Area School District. I understand that the District reserves the right to decline permission to serve as a volunteer. I hereby release the District and its employees and agents, and providers of information from any liability related to furnishing and receiving information related to arrests and convictions or other offenses."Volunteer Application Link