(Fox 11 Online)
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Recent changes in airport zoning have thrown a wrench in the Oshkosh Area School District’s plan to consolidate its westside schools.
OASD is currently in the second phase of a four-phase facilities consolidation plan that began in 2020. A key component of Phase 2 of the project is consolidating westside middle schools — specifically, expanding South Park and closing Perry Tipler.
The district’s planning centered on two main options: building a new school on the current South Park site, or significantly remodeling and expanding the current South Park building.
However, on Dec. 13, OASD leaders learned that South Park’s location in the Air-2 zone of the Wittman Regional Field Zoning code, established in 2023, would impact those plans.
“Winnebago County airport zoning updates enacted in 2023 prevent schools from being constructed or expanded in airport runway and departure zones. Due to South Park’s location in these zones, the building cannot be expanded or rebuilt at its current site,” a news release explains.
OASD announced Friday their proposed solution to this issue. The updated plan includes:
- Building a new consolidated middle school at Shapiro STEM Academy site (instead of at the South Park site)
- Creating a pre-kindergarten center at Perry Tipler Middle School site (instead of Shapiro)
- Moving recreation department to Tipler site (same as previous plan)
- Keeping alternative programs at current leased sites (instead of moving them to Tipler)
Officials say this solution maintains the district’s westside school consolidation goals and its commitment to a $0 tax increase.
“When we discovered that County airport zoning would prevent us from expanding or rebuilding at South Park Middle School, our immediate focus was on finding a solution that puts student safety first while maintaining our commitment to the community,” said Superintendent Bryan Davis in the release.
While we needed to act quickly, we’ve developed a thoughtful alternative that keeps our core promises – consolidating our westside schools, improving learning spaces and student services, and doing so with no tax increase. We’ve also strengthened our internal processes to prevent a future oversight. Most importantly, we remain focused on doing what is best for Oshkosh students.
The OASD Board of Education will review this proposal at their meeting Jan. 8. After board discussion and potential approval of an April 1 referendum question, the district says it will engage in comprehensive community-wide information sessions.
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