Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. 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). Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. For more spring 2022 election coverage,click here. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. DIGITAL ONLY: JUST $5 PER MONTH 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. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by challenger Matt Carrico. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. 2.) The 2,656 sq. "Its like, whos the adult here?". I am a community supporter, passionate alumni and strong advocate for becoming an unrivaled school district that will be the choice for anyone in our regional communityof learners. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. 4.) 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 . OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. Oconomowoc Area School District, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, the following offices are to be elected to succeed the present incumbents listed. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. You can help too. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. Additionally, we are lacking a significant strategic initiative to address why families who live in our district are actively opting out of keeping their children at our schools. "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. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. 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.. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. 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. 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. Their answers were limited to 100 words. U.S. President | In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. Application Contact Phone. Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. That day, I felt a moral obligation to step up to the plate and help stop this insanity in our school communities. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. "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. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). General mask wearing should be a family choice based on their understanding of masks and should not be monitored by staff unless under protocol since this takes time from their main task of educating. 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. Calendar . 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. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. Since August, the board has seen four resignations in the wake of a reportedly toxic work environment. [2] [3] Results General election "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". This is my first attempt at elective politics. "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. 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,. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. Four recall elections were held in 2020. "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. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. Ballot measures, Who represents me? A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. The district also must continue to pursue the sale of the old Meadow View School site. Office Incumbent Term School Board Member-at-Large VACANT 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) School Board Member-at-Large Neal Ninmann 3 years (Begins April 25, 2022) Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. Town of Oconomowoc Police Department. Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. 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. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. My viewpoints remain the same. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. 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. 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). Meanwhile, the board will begin taking applications and discuss its plan to fill the vacant seats at its next meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18. 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. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. A good number pleading with the board to require masks, few for mask-choice. 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. | 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. 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. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Sign up now! 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.". The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. 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. 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 chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. 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. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. You have permission to edit this article. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. 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. In May, after Gov. [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. "They can make no one happy.". We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). 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. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. 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. 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. "If people step forward and Im very hopeful that theres enough good people out there that will do that then the good quality work for kids can continue. State and local courts | State executives | 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). Continue to implement our district strategic plan and our athletic strategic plan. 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. 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.. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? The current board follows a policy and governance model that has helped our district move forward. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. All three are up for election April 5. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. 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. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. 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. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders, 262-560-2101WoodJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101KarnowskiJ@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101CarricoM@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2024, 262-560-2101SchickS@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101NinmannN@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, 262-560-2101SchraufnagelC@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2023, 262-560-2101ThielW@oasd.orgTerm Expires: April 2025, Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. 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 . 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. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Read full article. "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?" Counties | The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. School districts | The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. 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. In a statement, the trio wrote, "The OASD board has now been dragged into partisan culture wars by some members of the board" saying "Board work has become toxic and impossible to do.". When I asked, was this pandemic-related? I would have run then, but I wanted to make sure that the candidates I supported were elected (they did) and I didnt want to dilute the votes we needed. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. 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. 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. Three of the seven seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board in Wisconsin were up for at-large general election on April 3, 2018. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc-area news with a subscription: Click here. Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. "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.". Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. "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. Read to your children. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. Wood said the current HVAC system at Oconomowoc High School is from the 1960s and not up to today's . The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. The county seat is Waukesha. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. I will continue to work with the community and administration to keep our schools open for in-person learning. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. 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. All Rights Reserved. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? If we fail to support the best teachers, then we will miss them when they are gone. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead.