oconomowoc school board

Public policy. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. 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. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. Elections in 2023 | "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. State executives | Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board | Oconomowoc WI - Facebook 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. Additionally, we are lacking a significant strategic initiative to address why families who live in our district are actively opting out of keeping their children at our schools. OCONOMOWOC, 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. 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. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. It will notbe my last.". 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. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. SHARE. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. 3 Oconomowoc school board members quit, citing toxic behavior - TMJ4 COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. Boards are set up to handle policy issues like setting the annual budget while school officials are typically tasked with day-to-day operations, making decisions based on what theyre seeing in classrooms and running them by the board for approval as needed. [2] [3] Results General election Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 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. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. 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. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. If you make a promise keep it. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. The appointmentrequires re-election. You have permission to edit this article. . supports HTML5 video. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? James Wood (Wisconsin) - Ballotpedia Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. Here's who's running for office in Lake Country during this spring's 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. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. The district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. 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. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. School Board Meetings and Agendas - oconomowoc.finalsite.com Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. 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. To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here. "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.". 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. 3.) Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 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. 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.". Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. 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 . In May, after Gov. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. All Rights Reserved. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. Jennifer Eldredge - MC-EA Bilingual Educator - School District of Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. "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. Kaukl worries that in addition to the health impacts to kids and staff, the vicious disagreements and overriding of best practices around health will drive out the people who keep schools up and running. I 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. "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. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. 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. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 - CBS58 They would be able to go to work that day. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. (920) 474-4812. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. 100% remote. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. 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 I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. 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. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Phone. I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. "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. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. 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 . Ballot measures, Who represents me? All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. 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. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Oconomowoc School Board member Roehl to step down next week After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. 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. 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. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. 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. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. 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. In regard to your question on masks. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. Office Incumbent Term School Board Member-at-Large VACANT 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) School Board Member-at-Large Neal Ninmann 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) OCONOMOWOC . "[1], Jason Baumann, a member of the group, said, "We're all concerned parents in the district that are not happy with the way things are going in general with our district, with our school board. Schools | City of Oconomowoc, WI - Official Website "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. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign, cite toxic board behavior Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. 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. 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. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. "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. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic - MSN Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. 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. You have permission to edit this article. How to vote | 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. Now, nearly half the board is . The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. 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. "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. 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 . Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. Oconomowoc schools to hold 4 more meetings on referendum State legislature | Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. W359N6812 Brown Street. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Here's what we know about how the Oconomowoc Area School District is "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. "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. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. This is a decrease from both 2020 and 2021. Schraufnagel:I was appointed to the OASD Board of Education in September of 2021 after three board members decided to quit in August of 2021. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. Oconomowoc Area School District Board of - Livestream Application Contact Phone. !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? Kim Verhein Herro - Ballotpedia The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. 4.) Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. Voters in the Oconomowoc, Shorewood and North Lake school districts

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