3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. 2.) Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. First off, sell MeadowviewSchool. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. Calendar . SHARE. With a background as a VP of a college and with my current role in senior management at an HNW investment firm I wanted to leverage my professional experience to help our board operate as a high functioning group. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. 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. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. The OASD School Board holds a regular monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at the Oconomowoc High Schoo East Campus, starting at 6:30 p.m. >> Click here for the 2021-22 Regular School Board Meeting Schedule We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. I sought a September appointment and received the appointment. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. View All Calendars is the default. Keep updated on the latest news and information. One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. 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. 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. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). He said the remaining board would move forward constructively. State executives | Read full article. 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. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). 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. Application Contact Address. 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. 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. "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. Cities | 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. 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. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. 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. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. 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). Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. Contact info: 920-474-7796;thielw@oasd.org. My own kids have spent time in robotics, drama and athletics and I want to help promote the passion of students to the greatest extent possible. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. 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. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. The appointmentrequires re-election. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. 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. [1], Steitzer had not responded to the recall effort as of September 19, 2020. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 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. And if not, well, then this is the board the community wants.". [8] 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. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. School Board Meetings and Agendas Meeting Schedules. 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 effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 556 likes. [2] [3] Results General election Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. It will notbe my last.". 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. In May, after Gov. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. 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. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. 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.. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. U.S. Congress | All rights reserved. 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. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. U.S. President | 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. If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. All content Copyright 2023 WDJT. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. 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. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. You have permission to edit this article. Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. "They can make no one happy.". Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. 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 board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Ballot measures, Who represents me? We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. 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 Area School Board appoints 3 new members after resignations, Crash victim brought light to many around the country, Waukesha business owner sexually assaulted in store, Babes Pizza and Chicken to open next week in Mukwonago, A battle simmers in Illinois over plans to pipe in and store millions of tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide underground. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. Counties | Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. The district needs to continue moving to unrivaled. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Schlesingers Saturday Spotlight (3/4)String Art, 80s Prom Shower chances on/off this weekend with winter weather late in Milwaukee native Ernie Johnson, Jr. honored with Award of Excellence Drop your guns, pick up our gloves: Boxing club uses movie Route 20 holds benefit concert for human trafficking victims. 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.

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