oconomowoc school board oconomowoc school board

3.) United States. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. 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. 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. 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. "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.". 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. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. The starting point in creating the best school district in the state is through talented teachers, and Im proud to accept the endorsement of the teachers in the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. 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. "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. supports HTML5 video. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. 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. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. The county seat is Waukesha. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. 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. "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.". Footnotes. Their answers were limited to 100 words. Four recall elections were held in 2020. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. Calendar . Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . 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. 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 total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. You can help too. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. 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. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Cities | 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 . I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . 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. 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. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. From my perspective as a board member, to ensure that we are not putting our students at risk, a soft launch to the school year will provide greater clarity as to the effects of the virus when our students are back in session. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. 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. When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. 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. powered by finalsite About Us We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. U.S. Congress | "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. 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. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. "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.". FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. 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. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. You have permission to edit this article. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. The appointmentrequires re-election. In May, after Gov. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. 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. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. 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. 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. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. One of our top priorities will be to review and respond to enrollment fluctuations by continuously focusing on investing in our teachers, buildings and curriculum both financially and through policy updates that give autonomy to district leadership. [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. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 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. It will be a fantastic! This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. 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. "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. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. 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. 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. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. 556 likes. 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. 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. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. 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 effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. 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. "They can make no one happy.". Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. "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. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) View All Calendars is the default. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. 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 If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Now, nearly half the board is . Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. I am running to be elected by the community to continueserving on the board as a trustee of the district. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. Apply today! Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board.