[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. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. All Rights Reserved. "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.". 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. 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. 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. 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. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . Read to your children. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. 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. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. It is intrinsic to its mission: Unless students are mentally fit and emotionally stable, they cant learn and therefore, they will not be able to lead. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. Ballot measures, Who represents me? I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. Most students perform better when learning in person. "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.". COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. OCONOMOWOC - Oconomowoc Area School Board member Scott Roehl announced via his candidacy Facebook page that he would be resigning from his seat on the board due to his family moving out of . In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. "I have worked on behalf of good government, and am proud of the work I have spearheaded and accomplished in my time on the board," Steitzer stated. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. [2] [3] Results General election This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. 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. 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. Four recall elections were held in 2020. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. My viewpoints remain the same. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. 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. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule, Click here to reach eBoard and all Special Meetings & Committee Agend, Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). 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. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. | Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. With a background as a VP of a college and with my current role in senior management at an HNW investment firm I wanted to leverage my professional experience to help our board operate as a high functioning group. L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. 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. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . What a concept! When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. "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 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. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. "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 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). Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. (920) 474-4812. 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. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. 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. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. This is my first attempt at elective politics. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. In May, after Gov. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. 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. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. 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. 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. Their answers were limited to 100 words. 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.". 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. 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. State legislature | 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. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. 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. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. Anderson:The main goal for the district should start with retaining our most talented teachers and positioning the Oconomowoc brand as the destination of choice among teachers across the state. 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. "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. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. "Its like, whos the adult here?". "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. 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. To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters had to collect signatures from voting-age citizens who lived within the school district in 60 days. Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. State executives | "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. Waukesha County was home to 395,118 residents in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. 556 likes. powered by finalsite About Us 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. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . 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. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". W359N6812 Brown Street. U.S. President | 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. 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. Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. "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. Application Contact Agency. They would be able to go to work that day. My heart sunk. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. My goal is to continue positively contributing to the Oconomowoc Area School District for the benefit of my family, my neighbors and the greater Oconomowoc community. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. School districts | I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. View All Calendars is the default. 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. 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. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". You have permission to edit this article. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? 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. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 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. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. TWEET. 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. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. 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 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 Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. "Thank you for those who supported my 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. Dan Raasch, one of the Oconomowoc board members who resigned, said the group made their decision to quit the board entirely because they didnt feel like they had any options left and they wanted to shock the community into paying attention to the ways he said their school board wasnt working in the communitys best interest. We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. As a mother of two high-schoolers, an educator, and an online course developer in health and wellness, I have been researching programs and interventions used successfully by other districts that we can bring to the OASD to support students who are hurting. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. 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. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. OCONOMOWOC - Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have announced they will be resigning from the board due to the other board members and the interim superintendents unwillingness to collaborate in good faith, a letter from the members states. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. What a blessing this would be for parents! In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. 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. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. 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. 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 first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. 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. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. The county seat is Waukesha. 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. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. The 2,656 sq. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. 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.