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. "Anytime you try to make a change we went to block scheduling, we might have done a little grading change your boardroom fills," said Phillips. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. 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. 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. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. State legislature | SHARE. They would be able to go to work that day. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. 5.) Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. 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. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. Some of the activities include Boy Scouts, robotics, band, choir, theater, soccer, ski team, gymnastics, track, tennis, and we even hosted quite a few exchange students. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. 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. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. 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. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. "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?" "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. 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. In regard to your question on masks. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". The county seat is Waukesha. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. 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. 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. To read about other recall efforts related to the coronavirus and government responses to the pandemic, click here. 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. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. Around the same time, a group of parents chased the school board around the hallways of Burlington High School after the unruly crowd forced the suspension of a meeting. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. It will notbe my last.". Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. You have permission to edit this article. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. 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.". FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers 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.". Ninmann:If elected, my priorities will remain that of supporting through policy, our district administration, teachers, staff and studentsas we focus on our strategic plan, graduate profile and fiscal responsibilities. 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 . Students can grow and develop these mindful skills in a fun-filled environment that departs from the classroom and uses a common space like the cafeteria, the gym, and/or some outdoor space on campus or in the community. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. Schools should be a haven for students, a springboard for each one of them to become the best version of themselves in service to others. 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. I was part of that majority. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. 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. Elections in 2023 | We are doing it in many areas already. 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. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. 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. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. 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. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Oconomowoc High School. PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. "It created immediate, aggressive reactions, not only by those two board members, but also a faction of the community that they were aligned with," said Grothaus. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Community involvement: Five O's Baseball coach, youth football coach, and we lead the annual Anderson Family Holiday Gift Drive supporting local families, Contact info: 414-426-4114;andrew1anderson@hotmail.com, Address:N64 W37630 Woodcrest Drive, Oconomowoc, Community involvement:Current appointee to Oconomowoc School Board since September 2021;volunteer, Downtown Business District, past board member, OconomowocArea Baseball Club, Past political experience:19+ years on the school board Oconomowoc Area School District, Community involvement: Oconomowoc Area School District, Okauchee Lions Club, Boy Scouts former merit badge counselor, Contact info:schick.sandy@yahoo.com; 262-567-2725 (home), Address: N53 W37160 E. Madison St., Oconomowoc, Past political experience: Sat on the HeadStart Board, Champaign, Illinois, 2003-05. Our actions have an impact. It will be a fantastic! 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. If you make a promise keep it. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. W359N6812 Brown Street. As I stated on the previous question our priorities are financial stability, increasing open enrollment into the district, focusing on the strategic plans, supporting administration and teachers, and selling the old Meadow View. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. 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. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. "I have worked on behalf of good government, and am proud of the work I have spearheaded and accomplished in my time on the board," Steitzer stated. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. 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. "He's not vaccinated and your decision not to require masks is going to mean that he's not going to be able to attend in-person school this fall," said parent Scott Drummond. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. Throughout my life, I have been an active participant in my community. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website 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. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. 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. Read to your children. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. !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? We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. 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. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. Cities | OCONOMOWOC . The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. SHARE. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. 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. Schick:I wanted to provide experience and leadership in the hiring of the new superintendent, selling of the old Meadow View School site, and general district operations. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. 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. Ninmann:The most important initiative for me as a board member is to remain a functional and cohesive board that acts collectively in the best interest of students, the community, teachers and administration. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. The results are not official until they are canvassed. 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. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. "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. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. 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. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. [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. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. Supporting teachers is the first step towardbringing stability. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. "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.". 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. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. 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. 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. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. 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.
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