. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". 556 likes. 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. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. 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. Application Contact Address. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. "Its like, whos the adult here?". We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. 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. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. [8] 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. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. From January. The district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. 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. 100% remote. Calendar . 3.) This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? Most students perform better when learning in person. 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. 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. 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. Application Contact Agency. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. The candidates are (top row, left to right):Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right)Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. I was part of that majority. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. 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. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. 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. The property should be listed very soon. "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. 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. 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. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. 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. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? I look forward to continuing my involvement as a parent and community member in selecting a new superintendent, addressing transportation safety concernsand long-range planning for our educational spaces.". W359N6812 Brown Street. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. 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.". 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. Community involvement: Volunteered at the local parish church, lobbied for street resurfacing and got it done in our neighborhood of Oconomowoc Heights, which was prone to flooding. 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. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. 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. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. !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? Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. 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. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. 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 three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. Hopefully our community will rise up and demand to hire a quality superintendent who can provide enough positive leadership to overcome the current state of leadership for the district, the letter states. 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. In regard to your question on masks. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. Public policy. "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. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. View All Calendars is the default. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. 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. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, 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. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. | . 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. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. Three Oconomowoc School Board members have resigned in protest over how the district is handling COVID-19 protocols before the start of the upcoming school year.Continuing Coverage: Coronavirus in . What a blessing this would be for parents! As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. 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. 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. 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. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. United States. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. 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. 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. OCONOMOWOC . 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. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. "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. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Are we using it? ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. 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. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. 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.". Read full article. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . "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. 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. 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.". The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. Collected signatures for speedier repairs of the pavement in the parking lot across the street from the Post Office, which was in the core area of downtown Oconomowoc, full of potholes. 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. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. 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. 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. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. 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. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . In May, after Gov.
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