"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. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. 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. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. In May, after Gov. Application Contact Agency. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). 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. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. 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. This year, though, board meetings have gotten tense, and a combination of public pressure and district politics mean many wont put those precautions in place. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? NOW: Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members NEXT: OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Oconomowoc Area School District Board met Wednesday night, Aug. 18,. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. How to vote | Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. State and local courts | Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. 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. 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. My heart sunk. 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.". I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. 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. (920) 474-4812. "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.". The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). To do this we need focus on excellence, celebrate our successes, and create an overall district that people see as the best overall option for their students. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and 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. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. U.S. Congress | Footnotes. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. Four recall elections were held in 2020. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 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. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. 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. SHARE. To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here. "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. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. 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. What a blessing this would be for parents! I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I was part of that majority. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. If you make a promise keep it. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. 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. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. The district has a focus on developing learners and leaders and the board has a responsibility to support that focus with policy and financial stewardship. Federal courts | 2023 www.jsonline.com. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. 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. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. "Who in the world would want to be superintendent of a community and work with a school board that is unwilling to listen to all points of view?" 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. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. 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I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website 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. In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Oconomowoc High School. 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. 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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Their answers were limited to 100 words. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. "Its like, whos the adult here?". August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. 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.". 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. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. "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. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. [8] Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. 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A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. 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. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. "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.". One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. Thiel:You might not know this, but Oconomowoc has a separate special curriculum for those that want to be completely virtual, and I think that is a great program for those who have selected it. 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. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. In May, after Gov. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. 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. 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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. 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. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 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. Phone. 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. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. 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. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Currently the district consists of a high school serving students in 9th through 12th grades, two intermediate schools for grades 5th through 8th, and five high-performing, family focused . Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. 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 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.". Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. | The current make of the board has moved past the previous issues and is focused on policyand governance and supporting the work of the administration and teachers. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. 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). Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. "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. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. The results are not official until they are canvassed. 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. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. "I had people calling me up and screaming at me, people that have known me almost my whole life, parents calling up and saying 'You are making my kids wear masks, youre doing hybrid, youre bad people,'" she said. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. questioned one parent. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. All Rights Reserved. !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? 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. General mask wearing should be a family choice based on their understanding of masks and should not be monitored by staff unless under protocol since this takes time from their main task of educating. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. School districts | Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). 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) He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. 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. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. "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 district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. We are doing it in many areas already. 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. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). 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. Community involvement:I was a stay-at-home father while my kids were in school, and I was very involved at Meadowview, Nature Hilland Oconomowoc High School. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. I am running to be elected by the community to continueserving on the board as a trustee of the district. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. 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. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. 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. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. 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. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. 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. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. 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.
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