Oshkosh North Update #6

September 23, 2026 (7 PM)

Dear Oshkosh North Families and Students,

We are writing to share an important update regarding our plans for tomorrow. While our last update (#5) stated that school would be in session, we have made the difficult decision to cancel classes for Oshkosh North High School tomorrow, Thursday, September 24.

Why We Made This Decision

We want to be completely clear: This decision is NOT due to any safety concerns. Law enforcement has confirmed there is no ongoing threat or safety concern for our school community.

Late this afternoon, district and school leadership debriefed with some members of our Oshkosh North staff who returned to the building after supporting the reunification process. It became clear through these conversations that additional time to process and support our school community is needed. Taking care of our educators, staff, students, and families is our top priority.

School Support and Operations for Tomorrow

• Support Available for Students: Although classes are canceled, counselors and support staff will be available at Oshkosh North tomorrow for any students or staff who need a safe place to talk or process today’s safety response.
• Counseling Services (10 AM – 3 PM): School counselors, psychologists, and social workers will be available for individual support. Students must check in at Door 1 upon arrival and will be escorted directly to support areas.
• Lunch Service (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM): Lunch will be available to any Oshkosh North students in the cafeteria via Door 1.
• Material Pick-up (10 AM – 3 PM): Students will be able to pick up personal items and materials that were left at school. Please enter through Door 1.
• After-School Activities & Athletics: All scheduled after-school activities, practices, and events will take place as planned tomorrow. We recognize that these activities serve as a helpful outlet and supportive environment for students.
• Staff Structured Schedule: Oshkosh North staff will report for their regular work day on campus tomorrow for a structured debriefing process and mutual support.
• Return to School: Oshkosh North will resume its normal schedule on Monday, September 28 as Friday, September 25 is a scheduled No School Day for Students.

What Happened

To keep our community fully informed, here are the facts regarding today's incident and safety response:

• Earlier today, Oshkosh North was notified of a potential weapon on campus.
• School administrators and our School Resource Officer (SRO) acted immediately. The student was located and escorted to a safe, secure location by our SRO.
• During a search of the student's backpack, a handgun with an extended magazine was located, and the student was safely taken into police custody.
• To protect our students and staff, the school was placed in a Hold and then a Lockdown.
• Out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement made the decision to search the building. The building was evacuated and our reunification plan was put into action to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

Having a weapon at school is completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated in the Oshkosh Area School District. Every child deserves a safe place to learn and grow.

We want to thank the individuals who spoke up today and followed our "See Something, Say Something" practice. Your awareness and courage in reporting a concern allowed us to act immediately and keep our school community safe. We are profoundly grateful to our students for their calm cooperation, to our staff for putting kids first and keeping them safe, to our families for your patience during reunification, and to our law enforcement partners for their rapid response.

We recognize that changing plans on short notice creates logistical challenges, and we do not make this choice lightly. Thank you for your feedback, understanding, and continued support of our Oshkosh North family.

Oshkosh Area School District | 920.424.0395