The citizens of Oshkosh support our public schools. This was made clear in the 2020 referendum.
However, since that time, we have seen poor planning, cost overruns resulting in reduced security & unfulfilled promises, and no educational return on the large community investment.
Now we are being asked for nearly $200 Million to replicate this result at a time when many in the community are struggling to get by. School leaders wasted $1.2 Million buying houses for a plan that cannot happen while district presentations suggest this plan isn't going to cost us anything. Join us in sending a message to our district leaders that we need transparency before committing to such a large investment again. Vote no on April 1st.
Mega-schools make it difficult for students to feel connected to their teachers and other students. Vel Phillips Middle School has given us every reason to question this strategy. A large number of teachers left and many parents don't feel safe sending thier kids there. The proposed referendum looks to repeat this failure at the Jacob Shapiro site.
The school board already deceived us on the tax implications of the 2020 referendum under the guise of "strategic investment." Our community has lost trust. Now, more than ever, district leaders should provide fiscal transparency, but instead they look to accounting gimmicks to pass another referendum. What they want you to forget is that there are 2 more phases to this plan that will continue to increase the tax burden. To be clear, these taxes will be shouldered by everyone, either through increased property taxes or increased rents.
Closing schools means more students need rides and for much greater distances. District leaders understand that in Wisconsin, parents are far more likely to take this burden upon themselves rather than have their child wait in freezing temperatures for an unpredictable bus. This referendum plan has all 4K students under one roof at Perry Tipler. Our most vulnerable will be traveling the greatest distances for half-day educational oportunities.
When you ask school leaders about this the response is, "This is something we will figure out if the referendum passes."
District leaders have dug deep to find excuses for this plan and the results of the previous referendum. They would like for you to believe that only their information is correct. This is simply untrue.
Both the city of Oshkosh and Winnebago county agree a new school could be built on the South Park site even with the new zoning.
Our property taxes increased by over 4 times what we were told back in 2020 to get the referendum passed. See More
It is unsettling that accounting gimmicks are being used to suggest our taxes will not increase.
Our enrollment is declining because of poor academic achievement. If we change this we will regret the consolidation this referendum proposes.
District leaders have sold this to the business community by suggesting the new schools will bring more people to Oshkosh. But neither Vel Phillips nor Menominee has changed anything.
When Vel Phillips ran over budget the solution was to take roughly half of the $8 Million for secure entryways. This demonstrated prioritization of extravigance over safety.
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