oconomowoc school board oconomowoc school board

Three Oconomowoc School Board members have resigned in protest over how the district is handling COVID-19 protocols before the start of the upcoming school year.Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in . After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. Despite the mass resignation, the letter states the members believes there is enough insulation between the Board and the classroom that teachers can still do good work for kids. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. In previous decades, concerns about the teaching of sex education and evolution, as well as issues like school vouchers, have prompted angry public discourse and division among school board members. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. I believe strongly that serving as a representative of the community is a primary focus for a school board member and is the reason I am a good fit for the position. 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. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. The candidates responded to a questionnaire about how they would bring stability and cohesiveness back to the board and about masks and in-person and virtual learning. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Now, nearly half the board is . Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. "I have worked on behalf of good government, and am proud of the work I have spearheaded and accomplished in my time on the board," Steitzer stated. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Former Oconomowoc School Board members Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned on the same day, stating the board had "been dragged into partisan culture. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. From my perspective as a board member, to ensure that we are not putting our students at risk, a soft launch to the school year will provide greater clarity as to the effects of the virus when our students are back in session. SHARE. To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters had to collect signatures from voting-age citizens who lived within the school district in 60 days. What a blessing this would be for parents! Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. Nondiscrimination: The Oconomowoc Area School District provides assurance that no student is discriminated against because of the student's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. 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. School districts | "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. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 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. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. SHARE. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. 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. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. There are examples of other districts offering course credit for extra-curriculars and this innovative strategy helps to reduce expenses while also increasing scope and depth of viable opportunities for students. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. Read full article. You have permission to edit this article. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Application Contact Phone. With a background as a VP of a college and with my current role in senior management at an HNW investment firm I wanted to leverage my professional experience to help our board operate as a high functioning group. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. 5.) SHARE. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. My viewpoints remain the same. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. 3.) 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. From January. 4.) Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. In addition, their negligence to ensure that the district provides the best educational opportunities to maximize the achievement of our students will have significant and lasting effects on our community. Three Oconomowoc School Board members have resigned in protest over how the district is handling COVID-19 protocols before the start of the upcoming school year. Around the same time, a group of parents chased the school board around the hallways of Burlington High School after the unruly crowd forced the suspension of a meeting. 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. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. All Rights Reserved. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. Our actions have an impact. Footnotes. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. If you make a promise keep it. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var e in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+e)||document.querySelector("iframe[src*='"+e+"']");if(t)(t.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][e]+"px")}}))}(); if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; June 2: El Rancho Unified School District, California, What's on my ballot? Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. While we found ways to implement some virtual learning and found ways to make it viable for students, it wasn't always a sustainable platform for teaching. My heart sunk. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders, 262-560-2101WoodJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101KarnowskiJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101CarricoM@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101SchickS@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101NinmannN@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, 262-560-2101SchraufnagelC@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101ThielW@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. How to vote | The OASD School Board holds a regular monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at the Oconomowoc High Schoo East Campus, starting at 6:30 p.m. >>Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. I look forward to continuing my involvement as a parent and community member in selecting a new superintendent, addressing transportation safety concernsand long-range planning for our educational spaces.". One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. Anderson:The main goal for the district should start with retaining our most talented teachers and positioning the Oconomowoc brand as the destination of choice among teachers across the state. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? When I asked, was this pandemic-related? "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. "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.". Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Read to your children. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. She said: Absolutely! 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) 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. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. "You want conflict on a governing board, it brings more voices to the table and it can lead to a solution that can be supported by even a divided group," he said. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Phone. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. In regard to your question on masks. 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. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. 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. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. 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.. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In a statement, the trio wrote, "The OASD board has now been dragged into partisan culture wars by some members of the board" saying "Board work has become toxic and impossible to do.". A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. 100% remote. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. 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. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Since being on the board we have been able to begin the process of selling the old Meadow View building, we have hired a new superintendent, and increased student growth during the pandemic. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. "This feels different.". Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? "It created immediate, aggressive reactions, not only by those two board members, but also a faction of the community that they were aligned with," said Grothaus. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. OCONOMOWOC - Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have announced they will be resigning from the board due to the other board members' and the interim superintendents. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. The appointmentrequires re-election. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. 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. The 2,656 sq. Lastly, our board can help to elevate the district by prioritizing the focus of the board itself as the existing strategic plan that has not seen improvements or modifications in almost 4 years. 2.) Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). Schick:It is the vision of the Oconomowoc Area School District to become an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom, honoring the past, and shaping the future. This is the districts vision and should be our guiding light. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Additionally, we are lacking a significant strategic initiative to address why families who live in our district are actively opting out of keeping their children at our schools. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. "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.". [2] [3] Results General election DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. An effort to recall three of the seven members of the Oconomowoc Area School District school board in Wisconsin did not go to a vote in 2020. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. 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 Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Therefore, we choose to no longer be subjected to the negative, noxious effects, especially when we are not allowed to engage in any meaningful work to improve the Board and our schools.. 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. It will notbe my last.". OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. | View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. Application Contact Agency. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. As of this week, the data and our district metrics are trending in the right direction, so barring any major changes to the data, I see a return to a full face-to-face approach on the horizon. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. W359N6812 Brown Street. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. In May, after Gov. NOW: Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members NEXT: OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Oconomowoc Area School District Board met Wednesday night, Aug. 18,. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. Finding ways to increase open enrollment into our school district. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. The OASD School Board holds a regular monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at the Oconomowoc High Schoo East Campus, starting at 6:30 p.m. >> Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule United States. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. Hopefully our community will rise up and demand to hire a quality superintendent who can provide enough positive leadership to overcome the current state of leadership for the district, the letter states. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. Four recall elections were held in 2020. 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. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. [3][4], The recall effort started after the school board voted 5-2 in August 2020 to approve a blend of virtual and in-person learning for students returning to school for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 . The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. "No quality candidate is going to step up and put their reputation on the line when it really comes down to what camp are you in, what team do you play for. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. The difference is in the approach. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. "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. While Herro, who co-owns a manufacturing business, said shes used to discord and disrespect as a woman in a male-dominated workforce, the onslaught of anger directed at her and other members was staggering. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. "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?" The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. 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. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. This is my first attempt at elective politics. OCONOMOWOC - Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have announced they will be resigning from the board due to the other board members and the interim superintendents unwillingness to collaborate in good faith, a letter from the members states.