In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. "This feels different.". This is a decrease from both 2020 and 2021. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. Ballot measures, Who represents me? 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. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. [2] [3] Results General election "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. 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 . 37214 Delafield Rd , Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9101 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. 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. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. Federal courts | I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Read to your children. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? 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). Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. 4.) I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). "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. State and local courts | 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. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. School districts | 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.". For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. One of our top priorities will be to review and respond to enrollment fluctuations by continuously focusing on investing in our teachers, buildings and curriculum both financially and through policy updates that give autonomy to district leadership. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. 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. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. 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. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? SHARE. 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,. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. . I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. It will notbe my last.". Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. 2.) Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. [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. Their answers were limited to 100 words. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. "School boards are not, under the laws and procedures theyre set up to follow, very well-equipped to deal with hot-button, controversial issues," said Rossmiller. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. From January. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. 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. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. "You want conflict on a governing board, it brings more voices to the table and it can lead to a solution that can be supported by even a divided group," he said. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Oconomowoc High School. 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. 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. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. Counties, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. 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. Ballotpedia features 395,577 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. The property should be listed very soon. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. "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. 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. 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. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. 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. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. We are doing it in many areas already. 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. 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). Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. View All Calendars is the default. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 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. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. 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. 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. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Sign up now! All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. What a concept! Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 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. 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. "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. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. When I asked, was this pandemic-related? U.S. Congress | Application Contact Phone. Thankfully, masks are no longer mandatory. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. !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? State executives | Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. 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. 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. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. 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. The appointmentrequires re-election. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. In May, after Gov. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. 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. 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. Now, nearly half the board is . COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. 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. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. [1], Herro said it was the community's right to issue a recall.
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