A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. SHARE. 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. 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. 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. 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. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. 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. In January, the Oconomowoc School Board agreed to put a two-question facilities referendum on the ballot totaling $75.45 million. The 2,656 sq. 100% remote. 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. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. Board members say the data has changed since they moved to a mask-optional policy as of last month. We dont believe that people want our community to be characterized by the divisive, bullying, selfish, partisan tactics that seem to be so prevalent today. 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. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. View All Calendars is the default. Are we using it? Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Kim Kaukl, president of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said his member districts mostly opened fully in-person right away last school year largely because limited access to the internet meant virtual learning wasnt feasible. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. "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. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. 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. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. W359N6812 Brown Street. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. School districts | Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. This is my first attempt at elective politics. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. Read full article. Because of the contentiousness around COVID-19, Ford said things that would ordinarily fall in that "operational" category are instead being decided at the board level like mask requirements. "I do think theres been this public expectation around COVID that we want these school board officials to manage the day-to-day," he said. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. Kim Herro, Rick Grothaus and Dan Raasch had been trying to change the boards approach to governance and leadership, which they felt was toxic and made it impossible to collaboratively work on solutions, for over a year. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. 556 likes. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. 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. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. 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. 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. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. 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. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. They would be able to go to work that day. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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. 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. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. 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. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. Four recall elections were held in 2020. "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.". Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. 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. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. [1], The decision included an in-person learning model for elementary school students and a split-attendance model for middle school and high school students. Elections in 2023 | Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. This is a decrease from both 2020 and 2021. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. 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.. 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 Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. 3.) Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. "We are going to still going to continue to maintain, continue to work and continue to do what we can to make the Oconomowoc Area School District an unrivaled place and an unrivaled educational environment," said Roehl. Fortunately, I pray all of that is behind us. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. Despite the mass resignation, the letter states the members believes there is enough insulation between the Board and the classroom that teachers can still do good work for kids. Schick:When I campaigned in 2002, I had the following beliefs. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. 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 . "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. SHARE. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH . Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. 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.". If elected, what are your priorities for the district? 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. Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. Cities | After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule, Click here to reach eBoard and all Special Meetings & Committee Agend, Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). 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. What a concept! If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. SHARE. Most students perform better when learning in person. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. 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. 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. . Black Mental Health Professionals panel discusses representation Technicians of Tomorrow competition showcases high schoolers MATC apologizes for sparking frustration after announcing major Plans to extend Milwaukees downtown metered parking to 9pm Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members, Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into partisan culture wars', Medical Examiner called to fatal shooting near 84th and Bender, Multiple families displaced after fire breaks out in West Allis apartment building, Cars removed from third level of partially collapsed Bayshore Mall parking structure, Long Covid is associated with significantly increased risk of death, heart and lung problems, study finds, Yao Ming caught in the cross-fire as Chinese basketball team leaves top league on eve of Covid reopening, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. 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. The property should be listed very soon. Application Contact Address. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. 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 . The recall effort was started by the group Oconomowoc Citizens Represented, who said Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl "willfully neglected to act on behalf of the citizens of the district. 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. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. From January. 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). 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. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . If you make a promise keep it. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. I believe that as representatives of the community the board should always have time to hear people out and I appreciate the board making that change now that I am there. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. 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. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. powered by finalsite About Us 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. "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. Apply today! In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. 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.. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. 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. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". "They can make no one happy.". 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.