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. Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. "We should learn from districts that have suffered the death of a child and then changed their policy," said parent Natalie McAndrew. 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. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. Most students perform better when learning in person. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. You have permission to edit this article. School board members resign in COVID-19 protest. State and local courts | View All Calendars is the default. 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). The three members have stepped down, citing how the Oconomowoc Area School District has been pulled into partisan culture wars., Because of the dysfunctional and disrespectful behavior of the remaining Board members and interim superintendent, Board work has become toxic and impossible to do, the letter states. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. The appointmentrequires re-election. "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. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? Ninmann:I am currently serving as an appointed member of the board since September 2021. 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. Elections in 2023 | [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. She said: Absolutely! 100% remote. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. Apply today! Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. The property should be listed very soon. Both in-person and virtual schooling should be available as a choice for families to accommodate students needs and those of their loved ones. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. 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. The effort failed after the group did not get enough signatures. 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. PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. Application Contact Phone. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. 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. 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. From January. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. 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. 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. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. 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. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. 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. 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. 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 effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. 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. Read to your children. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. 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. !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? 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. "We have gone as far as we could to try to have a board working together, and a board that would work with the administration as a team effort," he said. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. 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. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. "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. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. SHARE. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. 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. The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. 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. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. 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. Hopefully our community will rise up and demand to hire a quality superintendent who can provide enough positive leadership to overcome the current state of leadership for the district, the letter states. Read full article. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. 3.) "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. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. 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. Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district. 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.". The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . [2] [3] Results General election 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. 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. 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. Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned. Six compete for four seats on Oconomowoc School Board, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. 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. "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. One thing that really helps now is the open debate and discussion that happens between board members, without becoming personal or offending other members. 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. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@conleynet.com, Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign, cite toxic board behavior, Cite hyper political, partisan culture as reason for stepping down, Submit an Obituary Wash. & Oz. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. We need to put our students holistic well-being as our top priority, build consensusand move schools forward. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. 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 . 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. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. James Wood took over as the Oconomowoc School Board president following the 2021 election, in which he was elected to a second term after receiving Kleefisch's support. 4.) How to run for office | "He's not vaccinated and your decision not to require masks is going to mean that he's not going to be able to attend in-person school this fall," said parent Scott Drummond. A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. "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?" The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. "[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. 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. ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. All rights reserved. We are doing it in many areas already. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. COVID-19, though, lit a match under the existing tensions and "consumed everything," said Grothaus. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. So it's important to look at vaccination rates and where new cases are popping up. "Weve got some young people, students who have gotten up and spoken in front of the board on the importance of being in school face-to-face, and then you have adults who are bullying them and cheering them," he said. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. 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. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. 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. supports HTML5 video. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 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. 5.) The district has a focus on developing learners and leaders and the board has a responsibility to support that focus with policy and financial stewardship. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. It will be a fantastic! Therefore, the district must follow the Strategic Plan and will be monitored by the documented metrics. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. 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. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. 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. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. In Oconomowoc, three members of the school board resigned, citing its "toxic" environment. This enrollment out is currently larger than our enrollment in and every time that happens, we have fewer resources to work with. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. "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. 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. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). 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. I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. The OASD School Board voted to authorize both referendum questions at the Jan. 18 meeting. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. Community involvement: Five O's Baseball coach, youth football coach, and we lead the annual Anderson Family Holiday Gift Drive supporting local families, Contact info: 414-426-4114;andrew1anderson@hotmail.com, Address:N64 W37630 Woodcrest Drive, Oconomowoc, Community involvement:Current appointee to Oconomowoc School Board since September 2021;volunteer, Downtown Business District, past board member, OconomowocArea Baseball Club, Past political experience:19+ years on the school board Oconomowoc Area School District, Community involvement: Oconomowoc Area School District, Okauchee Lions Club, Boy Scouts former merit badge counselor, Contact info:schick.sandy@yahoo.com; 262-567-2725 (home), Address: N53 W37160 E. Madison St., Oconomowoc, Past political experience: Sat on the HeadStart Board, Champaign, Illinois, 2003-05. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. In May, after Gov. The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. OCONOMOWOC . 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. You have permission to edit this article. SHARE. "This feels different.". 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. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. SHARE. "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. As noted before, in-person learning is critical to student success. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. 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.". 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. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. Counties | [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. After the board meeting, the district immediately began receiving dozens of requests for religious exemptions, which Grothaus said completely undermined the teachers authority. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. In regard to your question on masks. Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. . 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. 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. Three-layer cotton masks, 26.5 percent efficient," another parent said. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. Application Contact Agency. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. Schmitz:I like to call my priority number one Student Mental Fitness instead of student mental health. There are six candidates for four seats on the Oconomowoc School Board. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. Phone. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? It will notbe my last.". "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". 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. Their answers were limited to 100 words. [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. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic.