oconomowoc school board oconomowoc school board

My viewpoints remain the same. 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. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders, 262-560-2101WoodJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101KarnowskiJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101CarricoM@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101SchickS@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101NinmannN@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, 262-560-2101SchraufnagelC@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101ThielW@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. 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. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Waukesha County was home to 395,118 residents in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. 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. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. How to vote | Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. 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. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? 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. 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. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. In a statement, the trio wrote, "The OASD board has now been dragged into partisan culture wars by some members of the board" saying "Board work has become toxic and impossible to do.". More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. supports HTML5 video. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. Keep updated on the latest news and information. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. EMAIL. They would be able to go to work that day. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. By following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines around wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing, he said most were able to remain open all school year. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. I was part of that majority. Jessica Karnowski - Ballotpedia 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. 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. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. (920) 474-4812. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. 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. 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. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. Boards are set up to handle policy issues like setting the annual budget while school officials are typically tasked with day-to-day operations, making decisions based on what theyre seeing in classrooms and running them by the board for approval as needed. 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. 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 School District Threatens Parent With Defamation Lawsuit 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. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. Coronavirus: Oconomowoc School Board votes to send kids back to - WISN "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.". Calendar . She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. As they say, Keep School REAL. 3.) All three are up for election April 5. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. 4.) "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. SHARE. 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. 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. "I was the board president during Act 10, so I understand a contentious audience, but this took it to a whole other level," said Terri Phillips, executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance and a former school board member. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. 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) Oconomowoc Area School District Board of - Livestream Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@conleynet.com, 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. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. It will be a fantastic! Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and 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. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. Footnotes. 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. "Its like, whos the adult here?". One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. . 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. 3 Oconomowoc school board members resign, major decisions ahead - WITI My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. 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. Schools | City of Oconomowoc, WI - Official Website "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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. 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. 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. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? 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. 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.". Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. 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. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. And my third priority is Student Global Impact. If we are forming students at OHS to be grounded, responsible and accountable, that should focus primarily on how their actions are impacting others around them at home, at school, in the community and around the world. 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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! 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. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. 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. When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In May, after Gov. 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. I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. In May, after Gov. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. From January. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. 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. Elections in 2023 | 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. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. 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. 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. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that James Wood (Wisconsin) - Ballotpedia !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? Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. If you make a promise keep it. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. 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. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. 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. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. "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. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. Jennifer Eldredge - MC-EA Bilingual Educator - School District of Apply today! "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". State and local courts | The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Oconomowoc superintendent search narrows to three 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. Application Contact Agency. SHARE. Here's who's running for office in Lake Country during this spring's Federal courts | The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. You have permission to edit this article. 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. This is my first attempt at elective politics. "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.". Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. 100% remote. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. "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. Oconomowoc school board approves plan making face masks - CBS58 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. 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.