Oshkosh Chamber Endorses School District Referendum

OSHKOSH, WI- (WISS) – Oshkosh Chamber Board of Directors unanimously voted to support Oshkosh Area School District’s 2025 Phase 2 Facilities Consolidation Referendum appearing on the April 1st ballot. The school district is asking voters to approve a $197.8 million capital referendum.  This referendum focuses on the district’s facilities consolidation plan, prioritizing student safety and improving learning spaces while maintaining a zero-dollar tax increase to the debt levy. 

Superintendent of Schools Bryan Davis will speak at the 2025 State of the Community Address on Wednesday, March 19th, at 8 a.m., at the Oshkosh Convention Center alongside other Oshkosh community leaders.

Referendum Information

The school district is asking voters to approve a $197.8 million capital referendum. If approved by voters, the referendum would allow the district to:

• Build a new consolidated middle school at the Shapiro site (close South Park and Perry Tipler, reducing from three to two westside middle schools)
• Make additions and renovations at Franklin, Carl Traeger, and Oakwood Elementary
• Schools (close Roosevelt and Shapiro, reducing from seven to five westside elementary schools)
• Convert Perry Tipler Middle School into a pre-kindergarten center and recreation department
• Add an auditorium at Oshkosh North High School
• Install air conditioning at Emmeline Cook, Lakeside, and Read Elementary Schools

Reasons for Chamber Support of the Referendum

In a background and rational piece accompanying the press release announcing the referendum’s endorsement, the Oshkosh Chamber Board of Directors acknowledged that the referendum would allow OASD to build, consolidate, and improve current educational facilities to prepare Oshkosh students for future success and keep Oshkosh at the forefront of regional workforce success. They say it will help OASD stay competitive and remain an education leader in Fox Valley.

“The overwhelming consensus of the Board was that a strong educational system is critical to growing local businesses and the economy. Providing high-quality, safe, and functional learning environments are all critical factors in laying the groundwork for positive student outcomes in the long run,” said Rob Kleman, President & CEO of the Oshkosh Chamber.

The Board of Directors also said it feels the passage of the referendum will continue to help prepare the future workforce, help recruit and retain employees at local businesses, and help recruit and retain quality educators in our schools.

“A strong educational system is the backbone of a thriving economy, and without continued investment in education, we will ultimately face worsening worker shortages, higher costs to doing busines,s and community decline. Investing in our educational facilities now will lead to business growth and community prosperity for years to come,” Kleman added.

While the investment in this phase of the facilities plan is significant, the Board felt the commitment by OASD to maintain a zero-dollar levy increase through 2030 was an essential factor residents would want to consider when voting.