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. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. 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. "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. [1], The decision included an in-person learning model for elementary school students and a split-attendance model for middle school and high school students. "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. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. 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.". Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. By following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines around wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing, he said most were able to remain open all school year. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. 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 . Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. Elections in 2023 | Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 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. 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. 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. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. Ford said conflict in school boards isnt a bad thing, but it becomes a problem when people are so dug in on their beliefs that they cant find compromise, or even have productive discussions. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. "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. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. Application Contact Address. The letter states that the three members are also concerned about how Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor and remaining board members are responding to the pandemic. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. 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. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Then, according to the resigning members, another board member told parents they could claim a religious exemption to allow their kids to go mask-free. | Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Community involvement: Five O's Baseball coach, youth football coach, and we lead the annual Anderson Family Holiday Gift Drive supporting local families, Contact info: 414-426-4114;andrew1anderson@hotmail.com, Address:N64 W37630 Woodcrest Drive, Oconomowoc, Community involvement:Current appointee to Oconomowoc School Board since September 2021;volunteer, Downtown Business District, past board member, OconomowocArea Baseball Club, Past political experience:19+ years on the school board Oconomowoc Area School District, Community involvement: Oconomowoc Area School District, Okauchee Lions Club, Boy Scouts former merit badge counselor, Contact info:schick.sandy@yahoo.com; 262-567-2725 (home), Address: N53 W37160 E. Madison St., Oconomowoc, Past political experience: Sat on the HeadStart Board, Champaign, Illinois, 2003-05. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. 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. more, Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch resigned from the board, filled the three vacant seats in September, Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. 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. 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. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. "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.". ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. 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. 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.". 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. Phone. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. 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 . Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. 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. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. Then in November, board member Scott Roehl left after moving out of the district and saying in a Facebook post that he and his family did not feel safe in their home. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. How to vote | View All Calendars is the default. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. My heart sunk. 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). "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. 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. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Application Contact Phone. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. 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. Schlesingers Saturday Spotlight (3/4)String Art, 80s Prom Shower chances on/off this weekend with winter weather late in Milwaukee native Ernie Johnson, Jr. honored with Award of Excellence Drop your guns, pick up our gloves: Boxing club uses movie Route 20 holds benefit concert for human trafficking victims. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. some parents who are worried their kids will get sick, clear guidance from state and federal agencies, Children face cognitive delays during pandemic, Arts organizations see signs of recovery, A Milwaukee school is training students to help their peers who are dealing with suicidal thoughts, Why some schools are seeing more fights since returning in-person, Wisconsin districts face backlash over plans to teach gender identity to elementary students, 3 transgender women have been killed in Milwaukee in the last 9 months, Lawyer who oversaw Trump elector scheme in Wisconsin reappointed to judicial advisory panel, Court orders Green Bay to stop using audio devices while lawsuit plays out, UW System President Jay Rothman to seek in-state tuition increase, Capital budget would offload 4 state office buildings, Wisconsin natives aged gouda is 'best cheese' in America, contest says, Landowners sue Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders to reopen roads blocked for a month, Buyer steps up to save Camp Timber-lee in East Troy, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. 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. The appointmentrequires re-election. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. 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. What a blessing this would be for parents! What programs or initiatives are most important to you? Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Kim Herro, Rick Grothaus and Dan Raasch had been trying to change the boards approach to governance and leadership, which they felt was toxic and made it impossible to collaboratively work on solutions, for over a year. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. 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. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. 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. 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. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. . 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. 4.) I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. "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. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. [2] [3] Results General election The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. 556 likes. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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.. 3.) | Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. Since there is no ability to engage in meaningful dialogue, even on the issue of the health and safety of our students and staff, we cannot be part of an organization that is so non-responsive to every constituents concerns, not just a minority segment, and is so cavalier about our students, staffs and communitys health and safety, the letter states. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. Three of the seven seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board in Wisconsin were up for at-large general election on April 3, 2018. In May, after Gov. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. You have permission to edit this article. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. U.S. Congress | Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. Our actions have an impact. "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. supports HTML5 video. In regard to your question on masks. 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. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. The recall effort was started by the group Oconomowoc Citizens Represented, who said Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl "willfully neglected to act on behalf of the citizens of the district. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) 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. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. "Its like, whos the adult here?". I am a community supporter, passionate alumni and strong advocate for becoming an unrivaled school district that will be the choice for anyone in our regional communityof learners. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. "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. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. How to run for office | From January. 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. SHARE. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. She said: Absolutely! You can help too. 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. In May, after Gov. It will notbe my last.". This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. 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. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. School districts | 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. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. 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 . Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. My viewpoints remain the same. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. 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. 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. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. 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. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. 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.".
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