In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. 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) 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. James Wood (Wisconsin) - Ballotpedia Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. 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. Waukesha County was home to 395,118 residents in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. In addition, their negligence to ensure that the district provides the best educational opportunities to maximize the achievement of our students will have significant and lasting effects on our community. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. 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. 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. Schmitz:A lady sat next to me on my flight back from a conference in Florida last November and told me she was traveling with a group of five school mothers on a first vacation together since 2020. supports HTML5 video. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. 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. 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. 3.) After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. School board members resign in protest of COVID-19 handling - WISN I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. Jessica Karnowski - Ballotpedia After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. 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. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. 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. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. 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. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). "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. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. To get the recall on the ballot, recall supporters had to collect signatures from voting-age citizens who lived within the school district in 60 days. Oconomowoc Area School Board election results on April 5, 2022 If you make a promise keep it. 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. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". 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. 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. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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. Public policy. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. 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 . [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. 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. How to vote | 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. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. You can help too. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. "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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. 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. 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. If you say, 'I don't want to play for a team, I want what is best for the students,' it won't make a difference because your name is going to be slandered if you're not on the right team. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. !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? "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. 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. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. 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. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders, 262-560-2101WoodJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101KarnowskiJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101CarricoM@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101SchickS@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101NinmannN@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, 262-560-2101SchraufnagelC@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101ThielW@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest - Yahoo! News Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. 2986-Oconomowoc Town Police Dept-Police Officer | WILENET Oconomowoc Area School District: School Board I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. 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. "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?" Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. 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. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. The county seat is Waukesha. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. powered by finalsite About Us The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. PDF NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION - Oconomowoc Schools There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. "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. 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. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. The 2,656 sq. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. 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. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. 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. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. The results are not official until they are canvassed. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. 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 district has a focus on developing learners and leaders and the board has a responsibility to support that focus with policy and financial stewardship. 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 property should be listed very soon. U.S. President | Oconomowoc School Board election results: Virtual learning top issue 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. Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into All rights reserved. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. All three are up for election April 5. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. 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 . 3 Oconomowoc school board members quit, citing toxic behavior - TMJ4 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. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. Federal courts | Six candidates are running for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. 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. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. "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. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. 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. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. Coronavirus: Oconomowoc School Board votes to send kids back to - WISN My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. 'An impossible situation:' Members leaving school boards amid "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.". 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. Many Wisconsin School Boards, Overwhelmed By 18 Months Of Community He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. Calendar Oconomowoc Tourism, WI CivicEngage ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc.