I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. "You want conflict on a governing board, it brings more voices to the table and it can lead to a solution that can be supported by even a divided group," he said. "Its like, whos the adult here?". The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. She said: Absolutely! The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. School districts | Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. U.S. President | Sign up now! Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. 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. As of this week, the data and our district metrics are trending in the right direction, so barring any major changes to the data, I see a return to a full face-to-face approach on the horizon. powered by finalsite About Us Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. 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 It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. 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. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? The property should be listed very soon. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. 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. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. [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. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. supports HTML5 video. 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. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. State executives | Read to your children. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. 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. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. SHARE. DPI, the State of WisconsinDepartment of Public Instruction, has a budget for student mental health that has increased to meet the students needs after the pandemic. 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. 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. As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. Most students perform better when learning in person. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. "We have gone as far as we could to try to have a board working together, and a board that would work with the administration as a team effort," he said. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. Public policy. Are we using it? Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. 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. James Wood took over as the Oconomowoc School Board president following the 2021 election, in which he was elected to a second term after receiving Kleefisch's support. 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. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. 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. Application Contact Phone. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. W359N6812 Brown Street. I was part of that majority. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. 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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. 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. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. Students can grow and develop these mindful skills in a fun-filled environment that departs from the classroom and uses a common space like the cafeteria, the gym, and/or some outdoor space on campus or in the community. The district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. (920) 474-4812. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. [2] [3] Results General election ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. 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. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. All three are up for election April 5. | 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. 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. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. "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.". 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. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. What a blessing this would be for parents! 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. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Camp Timber-lee: Delavan businessman to buy, keep site open, Racine drunk driver killed pregnant friend: complaint, Mysterious lights in southeast Wisconsin sky; here's what they were, Alderman Bauman regrets his decision on downtown metered parking, Oak Creek car thefts; gas station customers targeted, police say, Delavan-Darien School Districts Pathways to Success. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Read full article. This is a decrease from both 2020 and 2021. 100% remote. The three members have stepped down, citing how the Oconomowoc Area School District has been pulled into partisan culture wars., Because of the dysfunctional and disrespectful behavior of the remaining Board members and interim superintendent, Board work has become toxic and impossible to do, the letter states. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. With a background as a VP of a college and with my current role in senior management at an HNW investment firm I wanted to leverage my professional experience to help our board operate as a high functioning group. 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. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. Additionally, we are lacking a significant strategic initiative to address why families who live in our district are actively opting out of keeping their children at our schools. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. 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. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. 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. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. 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. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. 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. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. 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 High School. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. 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) Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. The appointmentrequires re-election. 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. "[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. [8] 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. Nondiscrimination: The Oconomowoc Area School District provides assurance that no student is discriminated against because of the student's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. 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. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . 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. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. The candidates are (top row, left to right):Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right)Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). State and local courts | For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. As a mother of two high-schoolers, an educator, and an online course developer in health and wellness, I have been researching programs and interventions used successfully by other districts that we can bring to the OASD to support students who are hurting. 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. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. "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 would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. 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. "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. As they say, Keep School REAL. 6 Marquette edges St. John's, Illinois judge strikes down state's ban on high-powered guns, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61, Stocks rally Friday, close out their first winning week in last 4, Five Points Pub closes for renovations, hotel still open, Oconomowoc Area School Board appoints 3 new members after resignations, Crash victim brought light to many around the country, Waukesha business owner sexually assaulted in store, Babes Pizza and Chicken to open next week in Mukwonago, A battle simmers in Illinois over plans to pipe in and store millions of tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide underground. "They can make no one happy.". 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. "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. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. I believe strongly that serving as a representative of the community is a primary focus for a school board member and is the reason I am a good fit for the position. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. The county seat is Waukesha. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. 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. 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. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. "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. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. 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. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. From January. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. I will continue this trend of performance if electedto the board in April. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. SHARE. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. 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. 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. 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. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. "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. 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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. 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. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. Keep updated on the latest news and information. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. Application Contact Agency. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities.
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