The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. W359N6812 Brown Street. 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.". Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. You can help too. Elections in 2023 | Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. 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. 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. "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.". Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. "[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. 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. 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. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. 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. 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. "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. State and local courts | 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. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. 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. This is my first attempt at elective politics. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 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. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. 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. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. 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. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. 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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. 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. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. 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 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.". The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. 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. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. "The main qualification of a school board member and I say this as a local elected official is you got one more vote than the other person. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. 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. [2] [3] Results General election "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. Federal courts | 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. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. 4.) View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. 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. 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. I have been an educator for 21 years, the last 16 of them as an administrator, I felt this background would be a benefit to the board and school district. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. 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. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. Then in November, board member Scott Roehl left after moving out of the district and saying in a Facebook post that he and his family did not feel safe in their home. 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. Calendar . Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. Because of the contentiousness around COVID-19, Ford said things that would ordinarily fall in that "operational" category are instead being decided at the board level like mask requirements. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. There are examples of other districts offering course credit for extra-curriculars and this innovative strategy helps to reduce expenses while also increasing scope and depth of viable opportunities for students. . If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. OCONOMOWOC . Now, nearly half the board is . "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". It will notbe my last.". "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. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. 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. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. 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. 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). Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Just weeks from the first day of classes, and in the early stage of its superintendent search, the Oconomowoc Area School Board is down to four members after Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned Sunday. Oconomowoc High School. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. 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. 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. I want to be their voice on the board and fill the void that exists today by addressing issues that are pressing after a horrific pandemic. 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. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. 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 . Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. 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. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 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 district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. 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 . 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.. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. 2.) DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. (920) 474-4812. 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.". To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. 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. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. They would be able to go to work that day. Instead, we firmly believe that the vast majority of people living in our community value respect, decency, thoughtful collaboration, common courtesy, consideration for others, and caring for the common good. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. 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. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. SHARE. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. 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.". Four recall elections were held in 2020. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. | Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. 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. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. In January, the Oconomowoc School Board agreed to put a two-question facilities referendum on the ballot totaling $75.45 million. Their answers were limited to 100 words. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. Footnotes. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. How to run for office | This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1].
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