Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. 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. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. School districts | "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. 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. Incumbents Dave Guckenberger and Steve Zimmer faced challengers Kim Verhein Herro, Jason Kelly and James Wood in a primary election on February 16, 2016. 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. View All Calendars is the default. SHARE. 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Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. 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. 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. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Camp Timber-lee: Delavan businessman to buy, keep site open, Racine drunk driver killed pregnant friend: complaint, Mysterious lights in southeast Wisconsin sky; here's what they were, Alderman Bauman regrets his decision on downtown metered parking, Oak Creek car thefts; gas station customers targeted, police say, Delavan-Darien School Districts Pathways to Success. My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my 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. "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.". Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School Board appointed three new members in Neal Ninmann, Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel last Wednesday to replace the three board members who had resigned last month. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. 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. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). 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. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. 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. Oconomowoc Area School District recall, Wisconsin (2020), States that have pre-petition signature requirements for recalls, Recalls related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and government responses to the pandemic, Appleton Area School District recall, Wisconsin (2020), Robert Hesselbein and Minza Karim recall, Middleton-Cross Plains School District, Wisconsin (2020), Leah Lipska recall, Mount Horeb Area School District, Wisconsin (2020), Oconomowoc Area School District, Wisconsin, Williams County Public Schools No. Just weeks from the first day of classes, and in the early stage of its superintendent search, the Oconomowoc Area School Board is down to four members after Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned Sunday. After considering 29 candidates, interviewing six and then selecting three of those six as finalists, the Oconomowoc School Board has selected the Oconomowoc Area School District's next. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. He said what boards are seeing with COVID-19 disputes is similar, but with a key difference. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. Oconomowoc has been mostly optional since the start of this school year, and we intend to remain that way. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. 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.. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. 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. "They can make no one happy.". Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Cities | We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. "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. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. I led program development initiatives expanding outreach, involvement, and resources for both students and . Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. 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. 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. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. The 2,656 sq. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Ford said conflict in school boards isnt a bad thing, but it becomes a problem when people are so dug in on their beliefs that they cant find compromise, or even have productive discussions. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. The property should be listed very soon. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. What a blessing this would be for parents! She said: Absolutely! Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. How to vote | 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. It will be a fantastic! Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. 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. 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. It will notbe my last.". 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). We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Our family owns a small business in downtown Oconomowoc, I am a 1988 graduate of OHS and have three children who also have experienced OASD as students. 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. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Keep updated on the latest news and information. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. . "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. 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. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. Recall supporters said they did not agree with the decision and wanted students to have in-person learning five days a week. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. In the past the board was labeled as "toxic"; however, that is no longer the case with the current board. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. 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. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. 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. 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. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. All rights reserved. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. 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. 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. A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. | Footnotes. Schick:It is the vision of the Oconomowoc Area School District to become an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom, honoring the past, and shaping the future. This is the districts vision and should be our guiding light. Ballotpedia covered 34 coronavirus-related recall efforts against 93 officials in 2022, accounting for 13% of recalls that year. 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. 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. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. The boards job is to focus on getting our students the best education possible and work (as our vision states) to become Unrivaled.. 5.) You have permission to edit this article. 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. 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. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. [8] Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. The district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. 4.) One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations. 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. Phone. 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. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities.