By Emma Sauriol
A new middle school in Oshkosh broke ground on Wednesday as well as
voters approving two referendums that allow for school improvements.
As stated first by Fox 11 News, “the construction of the Vel Phillips Middle
School is part of the $107 million capital referendum that the Oshkosh community
supported in November of 2020.”
This school will be replacing both Merrill and Webster Stanley middle schools and will be a part of the district’s plan to consolidate 20 schools down to 14.
There will be three buildings that will be closed that also house five schools as a result.
The new principal for the Vel Phillips Middle School is the current principle at both Merrill and Webster, Kristi Levy.
Levy was named the new Middle school principle in July of 2021.
The Vel Phillips school is set to open for the 2023-2024 school year and is also named after
Vel Phillips, Wisconsin’s first Black secretary of state.
The other vote approved renewing $7.95 million per year in annual funds towards
the schools.
This money will be used for academic programs, technology for learning and student support services.
There will be no tax increase since the vote renews funding previously approved.
The referendum questions were approved at a school board meeting in July where they came out of a long-range plan which was approved in February.
