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. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. "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. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. The difference is in the approach. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. Their answers were limited to 100 words. "They can make no one happy.". For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email [email protected] or use our Listener Feedback form. OCONOMOWOC . Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. "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.". Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Read to your children. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. 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. 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. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. 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. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. 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,. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. "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. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. As they say, Keep School REAL. 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. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. 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. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. 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. 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. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or [email protected]. Therefore, we choose to no longer be subjected to the negative, noxious effects, especially when we are not allowed to engage in any meaningful work to improve the Board and our schools.. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. 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. 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. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. "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. EMAIL. Fortunately, I pray all of that is behind us. What a blessing this would be for parents! W359N6812 Brown Street. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. 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. The appointmentrequires re-election. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. In May, after Gov. 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. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. 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. 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). Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. 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. Our actions have an impact. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. My own kids have spent time in robotics, drama and athletics and I want to help promote the passion of students to the greatest extent possible. 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. "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. Contact info: 920-474-7796;[email protected]. | 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. "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. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. . We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. "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. I would have run then, but I wanted to make sure that the candidates I supported were elected (they did) and I didnt want to dilute the votes we needed. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. 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;[email protected], 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:[email protected]; 262-567-2725 (home), Address: N53 W37160 E. Madison St., Oconomowoc, Past political experience: Sat on the HeadStart Board, Champaign, Illinois, 2003-05. In May, after Gov. 2023 www.jsonline.com. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. United States. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. 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 can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. 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. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. Most students perform better when learning in person. 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 . The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. "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 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. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. 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. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: [email protected], 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. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . 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.". State and local courts | Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. 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. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. 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. "This feels different.". Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. 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. Then, according to the resigning members, another board member told parents they could claim a religious exemption to allow their kids to go mask-free. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. In regard to your question on masks. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 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. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. Phone. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. U.S. Congress | The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. 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 . [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. You have permission to edit this article. | Schools should be a haven for students, a springboard for each one of them to become the best version of themselves in service to others. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. 4.) Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. 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. 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. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. 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. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. "No quality candidate is going to step up and put their reputation on the line when it really comes down to what camp are you in, what team do you play for. 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. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Waukesha County was home to 395,118 residents in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. 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. View All Calendars is the default. 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. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. Application Contact Agency. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. The meeting schedule for the Finance, Operations, and Advancement (FOA) committee and Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) committee are available by clicking the link below. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. 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. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide.