oconomowoc school board oconomowoc school board

Schraufnagel:I was appointed to the OASD Board of Education in September of 2021 after three board members decided to quit in August of 2021. After considering 29 candidates, interviewing six and then selecting three of those six as finalists, the Oconomowoc School Board has selected the Oconomowoc Area School District's next. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 100% remote. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 4.) The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. I was part of that majority. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. powered by finalsite About Us "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.". [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. 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. Sign up now! A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. In May, after Gov. "This feels different.". Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. If you make a promise keep it. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. 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. Counties | [2] [3] Results General election Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. "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. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. W359N6812 Brown Street. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. TWEET. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. 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. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. "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. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. 2023 www.jsonline.com. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. 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. Cities | Now, nearly half the board is . Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. 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. "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. 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. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. 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.". I will continue this trend of performance if electedto the board in April. 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. 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. Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. | 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). "That began a tremendous attack on the board at that point about not having the kids full five days a week face-to-face, back in the schools.". General mask wearing should be a family choice based on their understanding of masks and should not be monitored by staff unless under protocol since this takes time from their main task of educating. 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. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. 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. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. I am running to be elected by the community to continueserving on the board as a trustee of the district. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. Phone. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . Ballot measures, Who represents me? The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. "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. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. It will be a fantastic! 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. Public policy. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. "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 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. My heart sunk. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. The property should be listed very soon. View All Calendars is the default. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. The appointmentrequires re-election. 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. The district has a focus on developing learners and leaders and the board has a responsibility to support that focus with policy and financial stewardship. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. Application Contact Phone. EMAIL. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. 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. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". 556 likes. From January. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. 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 . 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. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. !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? Oconomowoc High School. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. Four recall elections were held in 2020. 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. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. | "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. 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. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. Calendar . "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. This is my first attempt at elective politics. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. Read to your children. 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. 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. 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. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. 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. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. In August 2021, Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch resigned from the board due to what they said was the board's "unwillingness to collaborate in good faith.". 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. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. 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. 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. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. 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. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Fortunately, I pray all of that is behind us. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. 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. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. . 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. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. "[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. 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. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. Their answers were limited to 100 words. 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. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. 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. 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. SHARE. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. What a blessing this would be for parents! "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 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. 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. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. 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. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. 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. All rights reserved. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The results are not official until they are canvassed. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) issued a cease and desist letter to a parent threatening her with a defamation lawsuit for statements she made in public forums about the use and accessibility of age-inappropriate material. 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. 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. 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. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. 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. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? "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. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Federal courts | Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016.