Building Our Future

Thank You, Oshkosh

On November 3, 2020, Oshkosh residents approved two referendums. Question 1 was an operational referendum, renewing the district’s existing operating funding of $7.95 million annually through the 2029-30 school year. Question 2 was a capital referendum to borrow $107 million to build a new middle school and a new elementary school (closing three aging/outdated facilities that house five schools), enhance school safety and security, and address deferred maintenance and infrastructure needs.

This page provides the latest updates related to projects within the 2020 Capital Referendum. Check out the Project Progress Reports section below for monthly updates summarizing work being done on all building projects.

Construction Timeline At a Glance

Fall 2023 - Open Vel Phillips Middle School
- Two middle schools will become one middle school. The current Merrill and Webster Stanley middle schools will become Vel Phillips Middle School - a new school being built adjacent to the current Merrill building.
Fall 2024 - Open New Elementary School (name to be determined)
- Three elementary schools will become one elementary school. The current Merrill, Washington, and Webster Stanley elementary schools will become the new elementary school - a new school to be built on the site of the current Webster Stanley building.

Vel Phillips Middle School (VPMS) - Opening Fall 2023

VPMS Overview

Vel Phillips Middle School will open for the 2023-24 school year. Located adjacent to the current Merrill Middle School site on the corner of Kentucky Street and Nevada Avenue, it will feature state-of-the-art spaces and resources. Once open, this new middle school will become home to students currently enrolled at Merrill and Webster Stanley middle schools. Kristi Levy, current principal at both Merrill and Webster middle schools, was named principal of the new school in July 2021.

VPMS Construction Updates

VPMS Construction Progress

July 2022

June 2022

May 2022

April 2022

March 2022

VPMS Renderings

VPMS Branding Updates

Vel Phillips Middle School - Logo, Mascot, and School Colors

Say hello to the Vel Phillips Middle School mascot…the Phoenix!

The phoenix received an overwhelming majority of votes in the selection survey sent to future Vel Phillips Middle School students and staff earlier this year. Since then, school and District leaders have been working with Bray Architects, to develop the school’s identifying features including the mascot, logo, and school colors.

VPMS Celebrations

Oshkosh Celebrates Vel Phillips Middle School Groundbreaking

On Wednesday, April 6 the Oshkosh community joined together to celebrate the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Vel Phillips Middle School. The event featured comments from future Vel Phillips Middle School students and families, District leaders and volunteers, as well as the school’s principal. Students, staff, members of the Board of Education, members of the District’s Facilities Advisory Committee, and local dignitaries participated in ceremonial shovel turns. The Merrill and Webster Stanley middle school bands also kicked off the event with festive music and the playing of the National Anthem. LEARN MORE

Recorded Livestream

New Elementary School - Opening Fall 2024

School Secure Entrance Projects

In June 2021, the Oshkosh Area School District kicked off its summer secure entry construction projects. The construction included adding secure entrances at five OASD schools. In addition, ADA accessibility renovations also took place at each school. The summer construction projects occurred at: Emmeline Cook Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Lakeside Elementary School, South Park Middle School, and Carl Traeger Elementary/Middle School. LEARN MORE

The second round of secure entrance projects will take place at: Read Elementary, Oakwood Elementary, Oshkosh North, and Oshkosh West. In February 2022, the projects were postponed due to only one interested contractor submitting a bid, which was more than double the anticipated amount. This did not meet the District’s multiple bid policy, nor did it allow for a competitive cost environment. The security projects will be rebid and completed in Fall 2022.)

Project Progress Reports

Monthly project progress reports are published and available below with the goal of creating a shared understanding of the District's ongoing facilities work, made possible through the voter-approved 2020 Captial Referendum. The reports below include the latest updates on the Vel Phillips Middle School (opening Fall 2023), the New Elementary School (opening Fall 2024), and School Secure Entrance Projects.