U.S. President | 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. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. My viewpoints remain the same. 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. 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.. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. Schick:I wanted to provide experience and leadership in the hiring of the new superintendent, selling of the old Meadow View School site, and general district operations. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. 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. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board, Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Read to your children. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. Their answers were limited to 100 words. 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. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. 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. 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. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. My heart sunk. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. 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. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. We are doing it in many areas already. "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.". Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. 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. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. 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. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. 5.) 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. 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 Area School Board appoints 3 new members after resignations, Crash victim brought light to many around the country, Waukesha business owner sexually assaulted in store, Babes Pizza and Chicken to open next week in Mukwonago, A battle simmers in Illinois over plans to pipe in and store millions of tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide underground. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. SHARE. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. 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. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 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. "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. You have permission to edit this article. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH 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. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. 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. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. I will continue this trend of performance if electedto the board in April. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. In January, the Oconomowoc School Board agreed to put a two-question facilities referendum on the ballot totaling $75.45 million. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. View All Calendars is the default. "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. 6 Marquette edges St. John's, Crime Stoppers: Dispute on city bus leads to shooting, CBS 58's Feel Good Friday: Free zoo admission, inflatable animals and more. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. [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. Most students perform better when learning in person. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. 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. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. All Rights Reserved. Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule, Click here to reach eBoard and all Special Meetings & Committee Agend, Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. 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. "[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. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. Application Contact Agency. SHARE. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? As I stated on the previous question our priorities are financial stability, increasing open enrollment into the district, focusing on the strategic plans, supporting administration and teachers, and selling the old Meadow View. 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. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. What a blessing this would be for parents! That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 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. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. 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. She said: Absolutely! ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. 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. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. 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. 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. "This feels different.". OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. 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. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. Federal courts | 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. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. powered by finalsite About Us Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. State executives | Keep updated on the latest news and information. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. 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. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. 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. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. I would have run then, but I wanted to make sure that the candidates I supported were elected (they did) and I didnt want to dilute the votes we needed. Ninmann:If elected, my priorities will remain that of supporting through policy, our district administration, teachers, staff and studentsas we focus on our strategic plan, graduate profile and fiscal responsibilities. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. What a concept! Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. 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. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. "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. 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 have also served on both local and national boards of directors. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. 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. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. All three are up for election April 5. 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. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. 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. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Public policy. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. Read full article. "I do think theres been this public expectation around COVID that we want these school board officials to manage the day-to-day," he said. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. "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. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. 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. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. 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 . I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. "Its like, whos the adult here?". Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. 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. State legislature | The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. "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. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. U.S. Congress | Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. 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. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. | 3.) I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Footnotes. 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 . "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. 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. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. 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. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. 4.) "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.". Our actions have an impact. All rights reserved. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. School districts | [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask.
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