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Oshkosh schools give referendum construction update; Franklin and Oakwood designs about halfway complete
Summary
District administrators told the School Board on Oct. 8 that design work for Franklin and Oakwood is roughly 50% complete, the North auditorium project planning is under way, air-conditioning bids will go out soon, and playground and athletic upgrades are nearing completion or entering design phases.
Oshkosh Area School District administrators updated the Board of Education on Oct. 8 on the status of multiple projects funded by the district's 2025 referendum, saying initial drawings for Franklin and Oakwood are about 50% complete and planning for other major projects is under way.
The update matters because the projects will reshape elementary and middle-school learning spaces, alter parking at Oshkosh North during construction, and require staged moves next school year to avoid disrupting instruction, district staff said.
District staff said Franklin and Oakwood are at roughly the midway point on initial drawings. Planning documents show classroom reconfigurations, new collaborative learning spaces, upgraded music and art rooms with sound treatment and resilient flooring, and circulation and seating changes in cafeterias and gyms. Administrators told the board any large classroom moves would be scheduled during spring break to minimize disruption.
Officials said a core planning team has been assembled for a new middle school and that preliminary drawings are available but not final. The team plans a site visit on Nov. 7 to two newly built auditoriums in Sun Prairie to gather design ideas for the Oshkosh North auditorium project; staff warned the North project will likely require closing the school's west parking lot next year for construction staging.
On smaller projects, staff said the track and basketball court at the Bellefils-area site are nearly complete, with the track striped and the shed finished; a memorial area is awaiting plaques. Planning meetings have begun for the Karl Traeger playground and stakeholders discussed a complete playground replacement rather than piecemeal repairs, citing liability and accessibility concerns.
District staff said an air-conditioning bid package will go out soon and that staff has emphasized value engineering early in the Franklin and Oakwood designs to try to bring projects in under budget. The board also discussed signage and use rules for outdoor facilities after dusk; staff recommended consistent signage districtwide to address safety and neighborhood impacts.
Superintendent Dr. Davis and district administrators invited the public to a dedication for the new Merrill Memorial Corner on Oct. 17 at 11:30 a.m.; a rain date will be announced if necessary.
No formal board vote on these projects occurred at the Oct. 8 meeting; administrators said future agendas will include design approvals and budget items as projects advance.
