When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Application Contact Agency. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. 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. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. [1], The decision included an in-person learning model for elementary school students and a split-attendance model for middle school and high school students. Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. While we found ways to implement some virtual learning and found ways to make it viable for students, it wasn't always a sustainable platform for teaching. 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. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. 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. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. 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. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. 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Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. 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. 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. PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. Application Contact Phone. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. 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. W359N6812 Brown Street. 37214 Delafield Rd, Oconomowoc, WI 53066 | Zillow Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. "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. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest - Yahoo! News Michael Ford, a professor of public administration at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a member of the Oshkosh City Council, said theres a concept called "school board capture" that refers to boards being overtaken by interest groups a union, for example, or particular business interests. "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. 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. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. TWEET. 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. I believe that as representatives of the community the board should always have time to hear people out and I appreciate the board making that change now that I am there. 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. Some of the activities include Boy Scouts, robotics, band, choir, theater, soccer, ski team, gymnastics, track, tennis, and we even hosted quite a few exchange students. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. How to vote | 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. 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. 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. 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. (920) 474-4812. 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. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. "They can make no one happy.". 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. "I do think theres been this public expectation around COVID that we want these school board officials to manage the day-to-day," he said. 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. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. 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. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 2.) Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . The district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. Oconomowoc School Board hires Elmbrook's Michael Sereno as next Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. [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. "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. 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. She said: Absolutely! "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.". The property should be listed very soon. 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. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. "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.". State executives | The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. You have permission to edit this article. 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. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. 2023 www.jsonline.com. 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) Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. School Board Meetings and Agendas - oconomowoc.finalsite.com The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. 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. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. I want to be their voice on the board and fill the void that exists today by addressing issues that are pressing after a horrific pandemic. 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. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. powered by finalsite About Us The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Their answers were limited to 100 words. 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. 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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. 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. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. 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. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. OCONOMOWOC . They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. 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. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board | Oconomowoc WI - Facebook [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Culture war battles in local school boards aren't slowing down The results are not official until they are canvassed. Six candidates square off for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. "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. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. 4.) What a concept! "This feels different.". !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? Here's who's running for office in Lake Country during this spring's I am a community supporter, passionate alumni and strong advocate for becoming an unrivaled school district that will be the choice for anyone in our regional communityof learners. Read to your children. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Four recall elections were held in 2020. "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. The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. Many Wisconsin School Boards, Overwhelmed By 18 Months Of Community The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. School districts | This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. State and local courts | The 2,656 sq. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. "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. 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. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. 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 School Board election results: Virtual learning top issue Calendar . Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. 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.". James Wood (Wisconsin) - Ballotpedia "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. Sign up now! Public policy. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. 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. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. 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. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Jessica Karnowski - Ballotpedia Despite the mass resignation, the letter states the members believes there is enough insulation between the Board and the classroom that teachers can still do good work for kids. 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.. 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. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. 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.

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