The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. She said: Absolutely! I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. The appointmentrequires re-election. 4.) Our actions have an impact. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. "Its like, whos the adult here?". W359N6812 Brown Street. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. Ford said conflict in school boards isnt a bad thing, but it becomes a problem when people are so dug in on their beliefs that they cant find compromise, or even have productive discussions. In regard to your question on masks. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. 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. We hope the time will soon come again when it is possible to work together collaboratively for the good of our community and its children and stop letting the distractions and personal political agendas take us off that course.. "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) -- 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. Oconomowoc schools to hold 4 more meetings on referendum I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. 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 community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. 2023 www.jsonline.com. 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. 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. Here's what we know about how the Oconomowoc Area School District is Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. 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. 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 . Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. "The kids recognized that this was an important part of them staying healthy, because they didnt want to miss their sports and their other activities and school, they didnt want to miss the end of the year activities.". "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. "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. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board | Oconomowoc WI - Facebook . 3.) L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 - CBS58 Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 3 Oconomowoc school board members quit, citing toxic behavior - TMJ4 School Board Meetings and Agendas - oconomowoc.finalsite.com The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. Since being on the board we have been able to begin the process of selling the old Meadow View building, we have hired a new superintendent, and increased student growth during the pandemic. A statement says the board members felt their constituents weren't being heard on matters like health and safety, and that the board is influenced by a hyper-political group. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. 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. (920) 474-4812. In January, the Oconomowoc School Board agreed to put a two-question facilities referendum on the ballot totaling $75.45 million. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. Application Contact Phone. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. [8] "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. Elections in 2023 | We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. "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.". 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. You can help too. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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.". [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. "This feels different.". A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. 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. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Board Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. TWEET. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. U.S. President | Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. 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 Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. Keep updated on the latest news and information. This is a decrease from both 2020 and 2021. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Oconomowoc High School. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? "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. If you make a promise keep it. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. 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. PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. 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. Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into Boiling tensions are exacerbated by the structure of school boards themselves, said Dan Rossmiller, director of government relations at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. 'An impossible situation:' Members leaving school boards amid We dont believe that people want our community to be characterized by the divisive, bullying, selfish, partisan tactics that seem to be so prevalent today. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. I was part of that majority. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". Jessica Karnowski - Ballotpedia Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). The board is much more stable now than it was back then. Schick:It is the vision of the Oconomowoc Area School District to become an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom, honoring the past, and shaping the future. This is the districts vision and should be our guiding light. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. This year, though, board meetings have gotten tense, and a combination of public pressure and district politics mean many wont put those precautions in place. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. By following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines around wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing, he said most were able to remain open all school year. How to vote | 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. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. Cities | By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. I believe strongly that serving as a representative of the community is a primary focus for a school board member and is the reason I am a good fit for the position. 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. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. The results are not official until they are canvassed. 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 district has a focus on developing learners and leaders and the board has a responsibility to support that focus with policy and financial stewardship. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. 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. 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. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. 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. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. My viewpoints remain the same. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. 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. questioned one parent. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic - MSN