Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. 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. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . U.S. Congress | The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. 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. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. I am a good fit for this role as I can work well with a variety of people, and I can agree and disagree with them without allowing it to become personal. 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.". That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. 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. PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Calendar . United States. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. 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. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. The property should be listed very soon. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. 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. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Lastly, our board can help to elevate the district by prioritizing the focus of the board itself as the existing strategic plan that has not seen improvements or modifications in almost 4 years. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Phone. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. After considering 29 candidates, interviewing six and then selecting three of those six as finalists, the Oconomowoc School Board has selected the Oconomowoc Area School District's next. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . some parents who are worried their kids will get sick, clear guidance from state and federal agencies, Children face cognitive delays during pandemic, Arts organizations see signs of recovery, A Milwaukee school is training students to help their peers who are dealing with suicidal thoughts, Why some schools are seeing more fights since returning in-person, Wisconsin districts face backlash over plans to teach gender identity to elementary students, 3 transgender women have been killed in Milwaukee in the last 9 months, Lawyer who oversaw Trump elector scheme in Wisconsin reappointed to judicial advisory panel, Court orders Green Bay to stop using audio devices while lawsuit plays out, UW System President Jay Rothman to seek in-state tuition increase, Capital budget would offload 4 state office buildings, Wisconsin natives aged gouda is 'best cheese' in America, contest says, Landowners sue Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders to reopen roads blocked for a month, Buyer steps up to save Camp Timber-lee in East Troy, Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Apply today! 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. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. 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. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. SHARE. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. "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.". 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. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. "[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. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. 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. School board members are responsible for providing quality education to all students in the Oconomowoc Area School District; educational opportunities provided by the Oconomowoc Area School District should develop individuals who can lead productive and responsible roles in our community and society; the Oconomowoc Area School District contains a varied population who must be represented regardless of home location (urban and rural), family income, and family heritage; The School Board needs to ensure accountability and financial responsibility; School Board Members need to be open-minded, independent thinkers who are willing to challenge the district to maximize potential; The School Board needs to plan for the future. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. You can help too. 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. 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. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Oconomowoc Schools The Oconomowoc Area School District encompasses approximately 120 square miles surrounding the City of Oconomowoc and draws students from three counties: Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dodge. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. The county seat is Waukesha. Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. 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. 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. There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. If you make a promise keep it. 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. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. 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. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. Elections in 2023 | We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. 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 Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. (920) 474-4812. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. This is my first attempt at elective politics. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. The results are not official until they are canvassed. 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. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". It is intrinsic to its mission: Unless students are mentally fit and emotionally stable, they cant learn and therefore, they will not be able to lead. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. 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. 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 . Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. 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. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. "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. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. State legislature | Sign up now! 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 SHARE. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. EMAIL. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. State executives | When I asked, was this pandemic-related? 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. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. 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. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. "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?" Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. 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. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. 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. U.S. President | 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. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Their answers were limited to 100 words. . Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. 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. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? It will be a fantastic! In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. "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. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. "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. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. | In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. OCONOMOWOC . I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning.