oconomowoc school board

Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Black Mental Health Professionals panel discusses representation Technicians of Tomorrow competition showcases high schoolers MATC apologizes for sparking frustration after announcing major Plans to extend Milwaukees downtown metered parking to 9pm Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members, Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into partisan culture wars', Medical Examiner called to fatal shooting near 84th and Bender, Multiple families displaced after fire breaks out in West Allis apartment building, Cars removed from third level of partially collapsed Bayshore Mall parking structure, Long Covid is associated with significantly increased risk of death, heart and lung problems, study finds, Yao Ming caught in the cross-fire as Chinese basketball team leaves top league on eve of Covid reopening, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. My heart sunk. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. 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. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. 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. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. State and local courts | Fortunately, I pray all of that is behind us. We are doing it in many areas already. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 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. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. "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. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. 5.) Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. 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. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. "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.". Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. 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. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. School districts | Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. 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. 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. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. "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.". All Rights Reserved. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. Sign up now! "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. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. 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. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. 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. 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. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. 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. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. My own kids have spent time in robotics, drama and athletics and I want to help promote the passion of students to the greatest extent possible. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. "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. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. Federal courts | 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. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. 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 What a blessing this would be for parents! 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. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. 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. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). Dan Raasch, one of the Oconomowoc board members who resigned, said the group made their decision to quit the board entirely because they didnt feel like they had any options left and they wanted to shock the community into paying attention to the ways he said their school board wasnt working in the communitys best interest. 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. 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. "[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. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. A statement says the board members felt their constituents weren't being heard on matters like health and safety, and that the board is influenced by a hyper-political group. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Read to your children. [3][4], The recall effort started after the school board voted 5-2 in August 2020 to approve a blend of virtual and in-person learning for students returning to school for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. The appointmentrequires re-election. The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. 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. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 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. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. They would be able to go to work that day. Counties | 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 effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. 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. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. "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. TWEET. 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.". Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. !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? [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. Application Contact Phone. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. Since September, our board meetings have been productive, we no longer employ consultants to help us get along, we have hired a new superintendent and we were one of the only schools to improve scores during the pandemic by keeping kids in the classroom as much as possible. Phone. State executives | We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. Read full article. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Cities | "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.". 2023 www.jsonline.com. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. 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. "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. 100% remote. Are we using it? Elections in 2023 | As they say, Keep School REAL. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. 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. 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. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. 2.) When I asked, was this pandemic-related? I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. The 2,656 sq. 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. I am running to be elected by the community to continueserving on the board as a trustee of the district. Their answers were limited to 100 words. | The board is much more stable now than it was back then. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. She said: Absolutely! questioned one parent. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. 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. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. 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. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. 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. 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.". 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. This is my first attempt at elective politics. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. "Weve got some young people, students who have gotten up and spoken in front of the board on the importance of being in school face-to-face, and then you have adults who are bullying them and cheering them," he said. 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. 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 district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. [2] [3] Results General election 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. 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.". We dont believe that people want our community to be characterized by the divisive, bullying, selfish, partisan tactics that seem to be so prevalent today. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 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. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. 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. 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.

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