The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) School Board unanimously approved placing two school funding requests on the November 3, 2020 ballot: one to renew existing operating funds, and another to fund school facility improvements. The requests align with the district’s strategic plan and its long-range facilities plan - both of which were developed with extensive community input.

Question 1 (Q1) requests renewal of $7.95M in annual operating funds provided through two previous voter-approved Referendums for Learning (2014 and 2016). If approved by voters, it would combine the two funding streams into one and renew the funding support with no resulting tax increase. Funds would help enable the district to continue to advance its community-developed strategic plan, while following its guiding principle of students first by sustaining academic programs, technology for learning, and student support services. Oshkosh currently receives and spends less per student than both the state average and the average of similar-sized districts. If Q1 funding is not renewed, the District would need to cut nearly $8M from the operating budget over the next four years.

Question 2 (Q2) requests $107M in capital funds to advance the first phase of its long-range facilities plan, by building a new middle school and a new elementary school, closing three aging/outdated facilities, enhancing school safety and security, and addressing deferred maintenance and infrastructure needs. The result would be consolidated and modern schools that are more efficient, effective, and equitable - with fewer school buildings to maximize use and efficiency. The estimated tax increase per $100,000 of home value would be approximately $4/month in 2021, $6/month in 2022, and $7/month for the rest of the bond term. 

The facilities planning process began in 2017 to assess and address Oshkosh schools, with a goal to provide:

• Safe and accessible buildings
• Flexible and collaborative learning spaces
• Cost-effective buildings that maximize taxpayer investment

“Improving our schools leads to improving our community for all of us to live, learn, work and play,” said Board President Dr. Barbara Herzog. “Furthermore, research shows that home values are tied to quality schools and our businesses rely on quality schools - both to provide them with qualified workers and to attract families to our community. ”

If Q2 funding is not approved, delaying the facilities plan would still result in a cost to taxpayers without the benefits of upgraded facilities. OASD facilities are among the oldest in the state, and continued maintenance of aging, and in some instances failing buildings, simply puts a bandaid on buildings that are currently limiting the educational experience of students. The last capital funding request was in 2012 to build Oaklawn Elementary School; prior to that, it was 1999 to build Jefferson Elementary School. Key facts about Oshkosh schools:

• Average age of the schools is 66 years old
• Nearly three-quarters of the schools were built before 1970, so are more than 50 years old
• The oldest building was built in 1880

“Our job as school leaders is to provide the best education possible for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Vickie Cartwright. “That commitment requires a partnership with our community to provide adequate funding for our academic and support programs, and safe, effective learning environments.”

The District will prepare and share informational materials about the funding requests to help residents make an informed vote.