Oshkosh voters approve Phase 2; district posts four-year timeline, promises monthly updates

Voters approved Phase 2 of the Oshkosh Area School District facilities referendum, and Superintendent Brian Davis told the school board on April 9 the district will begin a multi-year design and construction process with monthly updates to the board.

Davis said the Phase 2 package includes four headline projects: air conditioning for all middle and elementary school classrooms; a performance arts space at Oshkosh North High School; a central facility for early learners and families; and renovated learning spaces that add natural light and collaborative areas. "When we are completed with phase 2, students will have... air conditioning in all of our middle school and elementary school settings," Davis said.

The superintendent described the schedule as a multi-year effort and warned there will be extensive staff and community engagement during design. The board and administration posted a high-level project schedule with the meeting materials and said monthly board updates will start in May. Staff also said the district has begun targeted outreach at affected schools, beginning with Shapiro, and will post schedule and progress information on the district website under the referendum page.

Board members and administrators repeatedly thanked community volunteers, the Chamber of Commerce and GOEDC for their endorsements and the referendum teams that worked on the four-phase plan begun in 2018–2019. Davis named Assistant Superintendent of Operations Julie Conrad Peters; Executive Director of Business Services Drew Nihans; Director of Facilities Jim Fox; Communications Director Katie Nieman; Director of Community Engagement and Equity Anthony Miller; and Executive Assistant Sherry Works as members of the internal team that will lead implementation and public communication.

District leaders emphasized they will solicit staff input during design. Davis said the Phase 2 process will mirror methods used in Phase 1 and that timelines will be adjusted as feedback and technical work proceed. He cautioned that construction and design take time and that some expectations — such as immediate installation of air conditioning by the next school year — will not be feasible.

The board did not vote on a construction contract or specific budgets at the April 9 meeting; Davis said those details will come back to the board as design and cost estimates are completed.