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. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. The current make of the board has moved past the previous issues and is focused on policyand governance and supporting the work of the administration and teachers. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. 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. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. 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. Application Contact Phone. Federal courts | 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. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. Footnotes. The appointmentrequires re-election. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. 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. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. "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. 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. . All Rights Reserved. SHARE. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. A statement says the board members felt their constituents weren't being heard on matters like health and safety, and that the board is influenced by a hyper-political group. "[1], Jason Baumann, a member of the group, said, "We're all concerned parents in the district that are not happy with the way things are going in general with our district, with our school board. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. 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. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. 100% remote. 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. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. 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 . R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. As a board our priorities are driven by our strategic plan and I will continue to support that plan. 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. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. 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. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. questioned one parent. 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Their answers were limited to 100 words. Keep updated on the latest news and information. 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. An effort to recall three of the seven members of the Oconomowoc Area School District school board in Wisconsin did not go to a vote in 2020. "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 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. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. 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. 3.) More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. All rights reserved. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. "This feels different.". 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. The starting point in creating the best school district in the state is through talented teachers, and Im proud to accept the endorsement of the teachers in the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. "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.". My viewpoints remain the same. 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 community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. 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. 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. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . U.S. Congress | Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. 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. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). Waukesha County was home to 395,118 residents in 2014, according to the United States Census Bureau. "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. 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. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. This is my first attempt at elective politics. EMAIL. 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. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). 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.". DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH 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. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. Now, nearly half the board is . To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. "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?" 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. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. What a blessing this would be for parents! ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. In May, after Gov. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . You can help too. Oconomowoc High School. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. Cities | The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. State and local courts | Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. I am running to be elected by the community to continueserving on the board as a trustee of the district. 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. 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. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. Community involvement:I was a stay-at-home father while my kids were in school, and I was very involved at Meadowview, Nature Hilland Oconomowoc High School. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. 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. | Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Former Oconomowoc School Board members Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned on the same day, stating the board had "been dragged into partisan culture. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 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. 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. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. NOW: Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 members NEXT: OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Oconomowoc Area School District Board met Wednesday night, Aug. 18,. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. 4.) Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. We are doing it in many areas already. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. 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. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. I will continue this trend of performance if electedto the board in April. 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.". "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. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. 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. My heart sunk. SHARE. Apply today! 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.. 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. 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. OCONOMOWOC . Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. 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. DPI, the State of WisconsinDepartment of Public Instruction, has a budget for student mental health that has increased to meet the students needs after the pandemic. Calendar . 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. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. 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.". COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. 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. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. "The main qualification of a school board member and I say this as a local elected official is you got one more vote than the other person. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. 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. "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. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives.