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Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. The candidates are (top row, left to right):Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right)Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. It will be a fantastic! There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. "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.". Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. Oconomowoc Area School District Wi - schoolslearning.info "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. 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. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. 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. Oconomowoc Area School District Board of - Livestream The property should be listed very soon. 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. 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 In May, after Gov. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? 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. Collected signatures for speedier repairs of the pavement in the parking lot across the street from the Post Office, which was in the core area of downtown Oconomowoc, full of potholes. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. 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. Finding ways to increase open enrollment into our school district. 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. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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.". Culture war battles in local school boards aren't slowing down Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. (920) 474-4812. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. U.S. Congress | Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here. 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. 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. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. OCONOMOWOC . We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. 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. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". State legislature | The letter states that the three members are also concerned about how Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor and remaining board members are responding to the pandemic. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. Counties | We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. 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. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. General mask wearing should be a family choice based on their understanding of masks and should not be monitored by staff unless under protocol since this takes time from their main task of educating. 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) School board members resign in COVID-19 protest - Yahoo! News "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. "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.". The difference is in the approach. Four recall elections were held in 2020. 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. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) 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. 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. In May, after Gov. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. Most students perform better when learning in person. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). All three are up for election April 5. Phone. 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. Four Oconomowoc School Board incumbents have retained their seats in the April 5 election. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. Oconomowoc Area School District recall, Wisconsin (2020) Kim Kaukl, of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said he got frustrated watching school board meetings where adults talked about what they thought was best for students, but didnt always listen to the students themselves. 3 Oconomowoc school board members quit, citing toxic behavior - TMJ4 The board is much more stable now than it was back then. 37214 Delafield Rd, Oconomowoc, WI 53066 | Zillow This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. You have permission to edit this article. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. [8] 4.) SHARE. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. "Its like, whos the adult here?". How to vote | A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? Sign up now! And my third priority is Student Global Impact. If we are forming students at OHS to be grounded, responsible and accountable, that should focus primarily on how their actions are impacting others around them at home, at school, in the community and around the world. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. As they say, Keep School REAL. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. 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. 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. Our actions have an impact. Read full article. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". 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. Oconomowoc schools to hold 4 more meetings on referendum 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. School districts | 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. U.S. President | "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. 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. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. 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.". 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. 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. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. 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. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Anderson:As a parent of four, the wake of our school board making national news for toxic dysfunction hit hard. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. 2986-Oconomowoc Town Police Dept-Police Officer | WILENET Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Board 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.. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. 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. 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. 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. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Camp Timber-lee: Delavan businessman to buy, keep site open, Racine drunk driver killed pregnant friend: complaint, Mysterious lights in southeast Wisconsin sky; here's what they were, Alderman Bauman regrets his decision on downtown metered parking, Oak Creek car thefts; gas station customers targeted, police say, Delavan-Darien School Districts Pathways to Success. Cities | Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. 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. Therefore, we choose to no longer be subjected to the negative, noxious effects, especially when we are not allowed to engage in any meaningful work to improve the Board and our schools.. All Rights Reserved. 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. Oconomowoc superintendent search narrows to three The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference.