OSHKOSH – 2025 certainly didn’t go out with a whimper.
From the Oshkosh Area School District’s proposal of eliminating 70 positions to UAW Local 578 preparing for possible arbitration with Oshkosh Corporation, Wisconsin’s “Event City” more than lived up to its name in December.
In a month that wasn’t wanting for headlines, here are some of the Northwestern’s most-read stories to cap what proved a very eventful 2025.
OASD proposes cutting 23 middle and high school elective teachers
Staff at Vel Phillips Middle School (above) and other schools likely has felt stressed, after the Oshkosh Area School District revealed its plan to cut 23 full-time middle school positions and add another class as a cost-saving measure.
The Oshkosh Area School District recommended terminating approximately 23 full-time middle and high school elective teaching positions to address a projected $6 million deficit for the 2026-27 school year.
In a subsequent communication to the school body, OASD revealed the proposal comes as part of a move seeking to terminate more than 70 full-time roles, including 30 teaching positions and 11 roles in its central office, headlined by Director of Community Engagement and Equity Anthony Miller.
As part of the staffing adjustment, the district also recommended all middle and high school elective teachers to teach classes for six of their seven daily periods instead of five without pay increases for the additional class teaching load.
Read more: Oshkosh Public Museum director promoted to lead four city departments
7 Brew to open new drive-thru coffee stand in Oshkosh
A 7 Brews drive-thru coffee stand is coming to Oshkosh at 2100 Omro Road.
Drive-thru beverage chain 7 Brew will be opening one of its popular pull-up coffee spots in April, having already begun construction on its newest store at 2100 Omro Road.
According to the company’s public relations, the stand is expected to add 50 jobs to Oshkosh and will feature more than 20,000 unique drink combinations.
Union prepared for arbitration in Oshkosh Corporation layoffs
The Oshkosh Corp. announced plans to lay off 160 workers in January.
UAW Local 578 said it is prepared to go to arbitration after claiming Oshkosh Corporation plans to place non-union members in “contractually bargained facilities” following January’s planned layoff of 160 plant workers.
In a November letter, UAW Local 578 President Bob Lynk told membership the union entered a policy grievance on the matter and will seek an arbitrator if they “do not receive a favorable response.”
Oshkosh residents show opposition to proposed school district cuts
Oshkosh North High School hosted a public comment session focused on OASD’s planned cuts.
More than 150 community members turned out to show their disapproval of an Oshkosh Area School District proposal to eliminate nearly 70 full-time positions amid a projected $6 million deficit at a Dec. 10 board meeting.
Citing the potential impact on children and schools, 20-odd teachers, students and residents publicly spoke against the staffing adjustment recommendations in a more than hour-long public comment session at Oshkosh North High School Auditorium.
Read more: New Common Council member Jacob Amos talks about why he loves Oshkosh
Oshkosh’s new Froedtert ThedaCare Medical Center to open Jan. 19
ThedaCare Medical Center-Oshkosh seeks to service residents east of I-41
Froedtert ThedaCare announced its new $84 million, 114,000-square-foot hospital at 250 W. Sixth Ave. is set to open Jan. 19.
The facility is expected to be open every day and will provide 24/7 emergency care, inpatient care, outpatient surgery, primary care, pediatrics, specialty care, drive-thru retail pharmacy, imaging services and lab services.
Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh Corporation layoffs, OASD cuts topped December news headlines
