[5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. From January. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. You can help too. 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. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. Thetwo candidates with the highest number of votes will takethree-year terms of office, and the candidates with the third and fourth highest number of votes will take one-year terms. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. We are doing it in many areas already. The recall effort was started by the group Oconomowoc Citizens Represented, who said Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl "willfully neglected to act on behalf of the citizens of the district. She said she wished the district had utilized its outdoor space in order to allow all students to return to in-person learning full-time. 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.". Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. Federal courts | Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. . Sign up now! "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. The appointmentrequires re-election. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. How to run for office | Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. Read full article. 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. 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. 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. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". Elections in 2023 | Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. 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. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. 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. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. U.S. Congress | My heart sunk. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. "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. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. Their answers were limited to 100 words. 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. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. . EMAIL. The 2,656 sq. 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. Counties | Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. OCONOMOWOC . Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. Phone. supports HTML5 video. 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. It will notbe my last.". 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. 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. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. 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. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. 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 think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . 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. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Our actions have an impact. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. 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. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. 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. Fortunately, I pray all of that is behind us. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. How to vote | Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. 556 likes. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! "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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. [2] [3] Results General election 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. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School Board appointed three new members in Neal Ninmann, Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel last Wednesday to replace the three board members who had resigned last month. 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. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. 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. Public policy. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? Application Contact Phone. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. The Oconomowoc Area School District (OASD) issued a cease and desist letter to a parent threatening her with a defamation lawsuit for statements she made in public forums about the use and accessibility of age-inappropriate material. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. What a blessing this would be for parents! In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. "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. 4.) The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. 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. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 schools to hold 4 more meetings on referendum, Ocon Four bring it on, off mat in Madison. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. 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. State and local courts | "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. 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. "Who in the world would want to be superintendent of a community and work with a school board that is unwilling to listen to all points of view?" The county seat is Waukesha. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. 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. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. 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. 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.". Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. "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.". 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. 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. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. 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. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. View All Calendars is the default. Keep updated on the latest news and information. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. 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. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. 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. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. 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. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. [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. Read to your children. 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. 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. Phillips saw 10 of her members removed in Aprils school board elections, and she said many felt targeted because of their support for phased reopening, virtual options and disease-mitigation strategies. In May, after Gov. 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. 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. 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. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. 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. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. | Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. School districts | L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. 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. 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. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. 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.". All three are up for election April 5. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. 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. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. She said: Absolutely! "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. "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.