oconomowoc school board

If you make a promise keep it. 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. To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. 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. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. 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 . What programs or initiatives are most important to you? Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. 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 would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: [email protected], Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign, cite toxic board behavior, Cite hyper political, partisan culture as reason for stepping down, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . TWEET. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Office Incumbent Term School Board Member-at-Large VACANT 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) School Board Member-at-Large Neal Ninmann 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. 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 continue to move our school district in the positive direction. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. 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. 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Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. 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. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. All Rights Reserved. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. [2] [3] Results General election (920) 474-4812. 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. 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. 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. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. 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. Oconomowoc Schools The Oconomowoc Area School District encompasses approximately 120 square miles surrounding the City of Oconomowoc and draws students from three counties: Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dodge. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. "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. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. Federal courts | I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. OCONOMOWOC . U.S. Congress | Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. United States. In May, after Gov. 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. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. 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.". The candidates are (top row, left to right):Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right)Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. [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. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Ballot measures, Who represents me? 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. Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. In May, after Gov. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. There are examples of other districts offering course credit for extra-curriculars and this innovative strategy helps to reduce expenses while also increasing scope and depth of viable opportunities for students. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders, [email protected] Expires: April 2024, [email protected] Expires: April 2024, [email protected] Expires: April 2024, [email protected] Expires: April 2023, [email protected] Expires: April 2025, [email protected] Expires: April 2023, [email protected] Expires: April 2025, Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Application Contact Phone. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! 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. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. 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 hope the time will soon come again when it is possible to work together collaboratively for the good of our community and its children and stop letting the distractions and personal political agendas take us off that course.. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. What a concept! 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. She said: Absolutely! 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. 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. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. . Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. "No quality candidate is going to step up and put their reputation on the line when it really comes down to what camp are you in, what team do you play for. I have been an educator for 21 years, the last 16 of them as an administrator, I felt this background would be a benefit to the board and school district. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. Another priority is to continue building trust between the community and the school board that we will do what we say and act as trustees ratherthan activists. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 2023 www.jsonline.com. SHARE. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. 100% remote. 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. 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. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. The county seat is Waukesha. "Anytime you try to make a change we went to block scheduling, we might have done a little grading change your boardroom fills," said Phillips. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. In regard to your question on masks. 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. "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.". I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. 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. 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. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. Around the same time, a group of parents chased the school board around the hallways of Burlington High School after the unruly crowd forced the suspension of a meeting. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. 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. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School 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. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 [email protected]. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. 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. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. 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. 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. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. 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.". "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. Phillips saw 10 of her members removed in Aprils school board elections, and she said many felt targeted because of their support for phased reopening, virtual options and disease-mitigation strategies. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. 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. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. Schools should be a haven for students, a springboard for each one of them to become the best version of themselves in service to others. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. | SHARE. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. She said she wished the district had utilized its outdoor space in order to allow all students to return to in-person learning full-time. questioned one parent. 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 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. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. This is my first attempt at elective politics. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. 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. In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. 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. 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. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. We are doing it in many areas already. 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. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. School districts | R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). 556 likes. 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). She thanked the three resigning members for the service and the wrote, in part, "Public service is a difficult endeavor that has been exacerbated by the current division in society as a whole" and, "While the timing and orchestrating of these resignations have taken away from our work, I am confident in the remaining school board members and their commitment to our students and families.".

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