oconomowoc school board

Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. Schmitz:Based on the priorities I outlined in my previous answer, I am developing a proposal, a comprehensive plan that includes creative and innovative programs, initiatives and strategies to meet the needs of our students after the pandemic. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. All Rights Reserved. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. "The main qualification of a school board member and I say this as a local elected official is you got one more vote than the other person. "Were losing some really good people because of the contentiousness, and Im concerned that we may lose some more teachers in the process, or more administrators, that we already know we have a shortage of.". Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. School board members around the state who supported phased returns to the classroom and disease mitigation efforts like masks and social distancing have faced vitriolic school board meetings, recall attempts, election challenges and threats over the past 18 months. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! U.S. Congress | [8] The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. Read full article. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. She thanked the three resigning members for the service and the wrote, in part, "Public service is a difficult endeavor that has been exacerbated by the current division in society as a whole" and, "While the timing and orchestrating of these resignations have taken away from our work, I am confident in the remaining school board members and their commitment to our students and families.". Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. Students can grow and develop these mindful skills in a fun-filled environment that departs from the classroom and uses a common space like the cafeteria, the gym, and/or some outdoor space on campus or in the community. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Our family owns a small business in downtown Oconomowoc, I am a 1988 graduate of OHS and have three children who also have experienced OASD as students. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. The starting point in creating the best school district in the state is through talented teachers, and Im proud to accept the endorsement of the teachers in the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. Oconomowoc Area School District recall, Wisconsin (2020), States that have pre-petition signature requirements for recalls, Recalls related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and government responses to the pandemic, Appleton Area School District recall, Wisconsin (2020), Robert Hesselbein and Minza Karim recall, Middleton-Cross Plains School District, Wisconsin (2020), Leah Lipska recall, Mount Horeb Area School District, Wisconsin (2020), Oconomowoc Area School District, Wisconsin, Williams County Public Schools No. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. As a mother of two high-schoolers, an educator, and an online course developer in health and wellness, I have been researching programs and interventions used successfully by other districts that we can bring to the OASD to support students who are hurting. If you say, 'I don't want to play for a team, I want what is best for the students,' it won't make a difference because your name is going to be slandered if you're not on the right team. The results are not official until they are canvassed. Schraufnagel:I was appointed to the OASD Board of Education in September of 2021 after three board members decided to quit in August of 2021. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. "Who in the world would want to be superintendent of a community and work with a school board that is unwilling to listen to all points of view?" 3.) To do this we need focus on excellence, celebrate our successes, and create an overall district that people see as the best overall option for their students. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Kaukl worries that in addition to the health impacts to kids and staff, the vicious disagreements and overriding of best practices around health will drive out the people who keep schools up and running. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. We hope the time will soon come again when it is possible to work together collaboratively for the good of our community and its children and stop letting the distractions and personal political agendas take us off that course.. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. Roehl said he also preferred an in-person learning model, but that it needed to be phased in to ensure the safety of students and staff. If you make a promise keep it. The property should be listed very soon. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. Black Mental Health Professionals panel discusses representation Technicians of Tomorrow competition showcases high schoolers MATC apologizes for sparking frustration after announcing major Plans to extend Milwaukees downtown metered parking to 9pm Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members, Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into partisan culture wars', Medical Examiner called to fatal shooting near 84th and Bender, Multiple families displaced after fire breaks out in West Allis apartment building, Cars removed from third level of partially collapsed Bayshore Mall parking structure, Long Covid is associated with significantly increased risk of death, heart and lung problems, study finds, Yao Ming caught in the cross-fire as Chinese basketball team leaves top league on eve of Covid reopening, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. She said she wished the district had utilized its outdoor space in order to allow all students to return to in-person learning full-time. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. Schmitz:A lady sat next to me on my flight back from a conference in Florida last November and told me she was traveling with a group of five school mothers on a first vacation together since 2020. You have permission to edit this article. In May, after Gov. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. [2] [3] Results General election School board members are responsible for providing quality education to all students in the Oconomowoc Area School District; educational opportunities provided by the Oconomowoc Area School District should develop individuals who can lead productive and responsible roles in our community and society; the Oconomowoc Area School District contains a varied population who must be represented regardless of home location (urban and rural), family income, and family heritage; The School Board needs to ensure accountability and financial responsibility; School Board Members need to be open-minded, independent thinkers who are willing to challenge the district to maximize potential; The School Board needs to plan for the future. "We have in the past seen national issues bleed into local government issues, but now were seeing a more sustained effort, and a more explicitly ideologically motivated effort, thats all-encompassing.". The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Camp Timber-lee: Delavan businessman to buy, keep site open, Racine drunk driver killed pregnant friend: complaint, Mysterious lights in southeast Wisconsin sky; here's what they were, Alderman Bauman regrets his decision on downtown metered parking, Oak Creek car thefts; gas station customers targeted, police say, Delavan-Darien School Districts Pathways to Success. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) issued a cease and desist letter to a parent threatening her with a defamation lawsuit for statements she made in public forums about the use and accessibility of age-inappropriate material. Collected signatures for speedier repairs of the pavement in the parking lot across the street from the Post Office, which was in the core area of downtown Oconomowoc, full of potholes. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Phone. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. OCONOMOWOC - Oconomowoc Area School Board member Scott Roehl announced via his candidacy Facebook page that he would be resigning from his seat on the board due to his family moving out of . Elections in 2023 | It is intrinsic to its mission: Unless students are mentally fit and emotionally stable, they cant learn and therefore, they will not be able to lead. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. You can help too. Apply today! They would be able to go to work that day. 2.) A statement says the board members felt their constituents weren't being heard on matters like health and safety, and that the board is influenced by a hyper-political group. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. The current make of the board has moved past the previous issues and is focused on policyand governance and supporting the work of the administration and teachers. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . W359N6812 Brown Street. SHARE. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. "[1], Jason Baumann, a member of the group, said, "We're all concerned parents in the district that are not happy with the way things are going in general with our district, with our school board. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Some of the activities include Boy Scouts, robotics, band, choir, theater, soccer, ski team, gymnastics, track, tennis, and we even hosted quite a few exchange students. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Thetwo candidates with the highest number of votes will takethree-year terms of office, and the candidates with the third and fourth highest number of votes will take one-year terms. Calendar . View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. "He's not vaccinated and your decision not to require masks is going to mean that he's not going to be able to attend in-person school this fall," said parent Scott Drummond. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. Boiling tensions are exacerbated by the structure of school boards themselves, said Dan Rossmiller, director of government relations at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. Michael Ford, a professor of public administration at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a member of the Oshkosh City Council, said theres a concept called "school board capture" that refers to boards being overtaken by interest groups a union, for example, or particular business interests. Federal courts | Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. This year, though, board meetings have gotten tense, and a combination of public pressure and district politics mean many wont put those precautions in place. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Oconomowoc Schools The Oconomowoc Area School District encompasses approximately 120 square miles surrounding the City of Oconomowoc and draws students from three counties: Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dodge. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Just weeks from the first day of classes, and in the early stage of its superintendent search, the Oconomowoc Area School Board is down to four members after Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned Sunday. "Anytime you try to make a change we went to block scheduling, we might have done a little grading change your boardroom fills," said Phillips. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. Phillips saw 10 of her members removed in Aprils school board elections, and she said many felt targeted because of their support for phased reopening, virtual options and disease-mitigation strategies. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. The candidates are (top row, left to right):Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right)Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). As they say, Keep School REAL. Now, as COVID-19 is again surging around the state and hitting kids harder, many boards arent putting any mask requirements or precautions into place, to the distress of some parents who are worried their kids will get sick and despite clear guidance from state and federal agencies that say universal masking is the best way to keep students safe and prevent schools from having to shut down. Kim Kaukl, president of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said his member districts mostly opened fully in-person right away last school year largely because limited access to the internet meant virtual learning wasnt feasible. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. 6 Marquette edges St. John's, Illinois judge strikes down state's ban on high-powered guns, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61, Stocks rally Friday, close out their first winning week in last 4, Five Points Pub closes for renovations, hotel still open, Oconomowoc schools to hold 4 more meetings on referendum, Ocon Four bring it on, off mat in Madison. Since September, our board meetings have been productive, we no longer employ consultants to help us get along, we have hired a new superintendent and we were one of the only schools to improve scores during the pandemic by keeping kids in the classroom as much as possible. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. In August 2021, Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch resigned from the board due to what they said was the board's "unwillingness to collaborate in good faith.". Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. Application Contact Phone. 100% remote. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? Boards are set up to handle policy issues like setting the annual budget while school officials are typically tasked with day-to-day operations, making decisions based on what theyre seeing in classrooms and running them by the board for approval as needed. "I was the board president during Act 10, so I understand a contentious audience, but this took it to a whole other level," said Terri Phillips, executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance and a former school board member. Ninmann:The most important initiative for me as a board member is to remain a functional and cohesive board that acts collectively in the best interest of students, the community, teachers and administration. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. My goal is to continue positively contributing to the Oconomowoc Area School District for the benefit of my family, my neighbors and the greater Oconomowoc community. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. DPI, the State of WisconsinDepartment of Public Instruction, has a budget for student mental health that has increased to meet the students needs after the pandemic. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School Board appointed three new members in Neal Ninmann, Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel last Wednesday to replace the three board members who had resigned last month. Currently the district consists of a high school serving students in 9th through 12th grades, two intermediate schools for grades 5th through 8th, and five high-performing, family focused . With the requirements to give ample notice before bringing up issues, only being able to vote on items listed in their agenda, and meetings that typically occur only once a month, theyre hamstrung from acting quickly which could get frustrating when the understanding of COVID-19, and the disease itself, was rapidly evolving. Office Incumbent Term School Board Member-at-Large VACANT 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) School Board Member-at-Large Neal Ninmann 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. I want to be their voice on the board and fill the void that exists today by addressing issues that are pressing after a horrific pandemic. The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. "If people step forward and Im very hopeful that theres enough good people out there that will do that then the good quality work for kids can continue. SHARE. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. The three members have stepped down, citing how the Oconomowoc Area School District has been pulled into partisan culture wars., Because of the dysfunctional and disrespectful behavior of the remaining Board members and interim superintendent, Board work has become toxic and impossible to do, the letter states. She said: Absolutely! ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. United States. . The Oconomowoc School Board asked the district's administration to begin the RFP process for the property in October 2021 and approved listing the property for sale in December 2021. 25, Idaho, Braintree School Department, Massachusetts, Creighton Elementary School District, Arizona, Del Norte County Unified School District, California, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Louisiana, Elbert County School District C-2, Colorado, Fresno Unified School District, California, Lake Havasu Unified School District, Arizona, Lake Mills Area School District, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Tennessee, Middleton-Cross Plains School District, Wisconsin, Mount Horeb Area School District, Wisconsin, Oakland Unified School District, California, Paradise Valley Unified School District, Arizona, Traverse City Area Public Schools, Michigan, Visalia Unified School District, California, Westford School Department, Massachusetts, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Oconomowoc_Area_School_District_recall,_Wisconsin_(2020)&oldid=8841316, Pages using DynamicPageList dplreplace parser function, Unsuccessful or mixed outcome recall efforts, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections.

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