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Students and families urge board to save West High’s Excel program as district considers changes
Summary
Multiple students, parents and community members spoke during public forum to oppose proposed changes to Excel — a co-taught, project-based support program at Oshkosh West High School — asking the board to reconsider a plan that would replace the multi-teacher model with a single case manager.
Dozens of students, alumni and community members told the Oshkosh Area School District board during public comment on April 23 that proposed changes to the Excel program at Oshkosh West would harm students who rely on the co‑taught, small-group model.
Current and former Excel students described the program as a supportive, family-like environment with two teachers per classroom and a curriculum adapted for learners who benefit from hands-on, project-based instruction. Multiple speakers said administrators' descriptions that Excel was "changing" did not adequately explain why the district would reduce four teachers to a single case manager and how that change would preserve the current program’s student supports.
Students Addison ****, Amaya Thomas, Shannon Dreiser (former Excel student) and others detailed personal academic and emotional gains in Excel — citing improved grades, social skills, job-preparation help and leadership opportunities. Several said they had tried to contact administrators for clear explanations but had not received satisfactory answers.
Speakers contrasted Excel with Global Academy, an advanced program that will remain largely unchanged and said Global receives more resources. Several parents and an adult supporter urged the board to bring the matter to the education committee for more review and to use student representatives in planning any changes. A board member requested the Excel topic be placed on the education committee agenda for fuller review.
No formal board action to change the program was recorded at the meeting; public comments and student testimony were entered into the record. Several board members asked administration to provide an explanation to the board and to the public and to follow up at the education committee.
The board did not vote on the program during the meeting; members directed staff to bring more information to committee-level discussions.
