oconomowoc school board

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Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. 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. 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. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. 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. 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. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. 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. 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. 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. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. 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. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Calendar . Kim Kaukl, of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said he got frustrated watching school board meetings where adults talked about what they thought was best for students, but didnt always listen to the students themselves. 5.) We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). 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.". 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. 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. Counties | 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. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". What a concept! The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . Another priority is to continue building trust between the community and the school board that we will do what we say and act as trustees ratherthan activists. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. 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.. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. Instead, we firmly believe that the vast majority of people living in our community value respect, decency, thoughtful collaboration, common courtesy, consideration for others, and caring for the common good. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. supports HTML5 video. Most students perform better when learning in person. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". 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. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. 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. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. 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. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. From January. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. In May, after Gov. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . Cities | W359N6812 Brown Street. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. I am running to be elected by the community to continueserving on the board as a trustee of the district. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. [2] [3] Results General election You have permission to edit this article. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. 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. You have permission to edit this article. "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 had people calling me up and screaming at me, people that have known me almost my whole life, parents calling up and saying 'You are making my kids wear masks, youre doing hybrid, youre bad people,'" she said. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. 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. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. My viewpoints remain the same. 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. 556 likes. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. SHARE. I am a good fit for this role as I can work well with a variety of people, and I can agree and disagree with them without allowing it to become personal. Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. 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. 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. And my third priority is Student Global Impact. If we are forming students at OHS to be grounded, responsible and accountable, that should focus primarily on how their actions are impacting others around them at home, at school, in the community and around the world. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. 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. Now, nearly half the board is . Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. "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.". We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. Phone. School districts | 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,. 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. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. All three are 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. [8] 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. 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. . Application Contact Address. Community involvement: Volunteered at the local parish church, lobbied for street resurfacing and got it done in our neighborhood of Oconomowoc Heights, which was prone to flooding. "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. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. It will be a fantastic! In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that 100% remote. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? 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. The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). "School boards are not, under the laws and procedures theyre set up to follow, very well-equipped to deal with hot-button, controversial issues," said Rossmiller. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. Our actions have an impact. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. 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 kids recognized that this was an important part of them staying healthy, because they didnt want to miss their sports and their other activities and school, they didnt want to miss the end of the year activities.". She said: Absolutely! This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. 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. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. "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?" Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. "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. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. 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). OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! When I asked, was this pandemic-related? Because of the contentiousness around COVID-19, Ford said things that would ordinarily fall in that "operational" category are instead being decided at the board level like mask requirements. "We are going to still going to continue to maintain, continue to work and continue to do what we can to make the Oconomowoc Area School District an unrivaled place and an unrivaled educational environment," said Roehl. 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. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. James Wood took over as the Oconomowoc School Board president following the 2021 election, in which he was elected to a second term after receiving Kleefisch's support. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. I will continue this trend of performance if electedto the board in April. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? This is my first attempt at elective politics. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. U.S. President | I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. Are we using it? Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. Community involvement:I was a stay-at-home father while my kids were in school, and I was very involved at Meadowview, Nature Hilland Oconomowoc High School. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. "Its like, whos the adult here?". Footnotes. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. The meeting schedule for the Finance, Operations, and Advancement (FOA) committee and Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) committee are available by clicking the link below. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Schools should be a haven for students, a springboard for each one of them to become the best version of themselves in service to others. 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. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School 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. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Application Contact Phone. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. My heart sunk. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Read to your children. "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. I have been an educator for 21 years, the last 16 of them as an administrator, I felt this background would be a benefit to the board and school district. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. 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. 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. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. 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