"This feels different.". 100% remote. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. 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. "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. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. 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. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. 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. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. EMAIL. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. 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. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 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. 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. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. Four recall elections were held in 2020. 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. All Rights Reserved. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. Read full article. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that 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. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". I will fight for this as it will bring a transformative, long-lasting solution in times of crisis. 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. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. 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. . There is an opportunity to advance learning opportunities through improved online platforms that can serve both students and assist parents. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. "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 Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. The appointmentrequires re-election. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. SHARE. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. 2.) That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH 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. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. 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. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. Thiel:You might not know this, but Oconomowoc has a separate special curriculum for those that want to be completely virtual, and I think that is a great program for those who have selected it. "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. Most students perform better when learning in person. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. Waukesha County was home to 395,118 residents in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. 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 . The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . This is my first attempt at elective politics. 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. Schmitz:Based on the priorities I outlined in my previous answer, I am developing a proposal, a comprehensive plan that includes creative and innovative programs, initiatives and strategies to meet the needs of our students after the pandemic. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. 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. 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.". "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.". Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. My viewpoints remain the same. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. 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. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. 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. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. 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) 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. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. [3][4], The recall effort started after the school board voted 5-2 in August 2020 to approve a blend of virtual and in-person learning for students returning to school for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. I am a community supporter, passionate alumni and strong advocate for becoming an unrivaled school district that will be the choice for anyone in our regional communityof learners. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. How to vote | Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. Keep updated on the latest news and information. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. 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. 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. State executives | For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. School districts | Sign up now! Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead.

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