My viewpoints remain the same. 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. While Herro, who co-owns a manufacturing business, said shes used to discord and disrespect as a woman in a male-dominated workforce, the onslaught of anger directed at her and other members was staggering. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. 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. "This feels different.". Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. Ninmann:100% remain optional for in-person learning. "That began a tremendous attack on the board at that point about not having the kids full five days a week face-to-face, back in the schools.". "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?" Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. "When Juliet lost her seat, then we lost the majority, and once we lost the majority, the culture became caustic.". 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. It will take years of rebuilding and recovery as people continue to live in fear. 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. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. In total, there are four seats up for election this year, and six candidates running. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. They would be able to go to work that day. Anderson:Im proud and humbled to be endorsed by the teachers of the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. 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. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. Meeting Schedule / Notices / Agendas/ Meeting Summaries. [3][4], The recall effort started after the school board voted 5-2 in August 2020 to approve a blend of virtual and in-person learning for students returning to school for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill Thiel was appointed in Januaryto Roehl's former seat to finish out the term and will run for the seat this spring. Grothaus and Raasch both had about a year and a half left in their terms which expired in April 2023. The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. Read full article. EMAIL. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. State and local courts | 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). The number of signatures needed was equal to 25% of the votes cast within the school district in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[1]. 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Job Openings at Weigel Broadcasting Milwaukee. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. 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. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. "Anytime you try to make a change we went to block scheduling, we might have done a little grading change your boardroom fills," said Phillips. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. 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. powered by finalsite About Us Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community. 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. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. 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. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. When three school board members in Oconomowoc resigned together on Monday, it wasnt solely because of board disputes over COVID-19. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. - Divisive, bullying, partisan tactics are among the reasons why three Oconomowoc Area School Board members said they resigned Sunday night, Aug. 15. Read to your children. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Application Contact Agency. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. "We will use mandated masking as a layered mitigation strategy when our data proves it necessary," said Dr. Kristen Taylor, interim superintendent. Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. "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.". Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. Its not a question of which is better;its about innovation to give parents, studentsand teachers a choice. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. 25, Idaho, Braintree School Department, Massachusetts, Creighton Elementary School District, Arizona, Del Norte County Unified School District, California, East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Louisiana, Elbert County School District C-2, Colorado, Fresno Unified School District, California, Lake Havasu Unified School District, Arizona, Lake Mills Area School District, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Tennessee, Middleton-Cross Plains School District, Wisconsin, Mount Horeb Area School District, Wisconsin, Oakland Unified School District, California, Paradise Valley Unified School District, Arizona, Traverse City Area Public Schools, Michigan, Visalia Unified School District, California, Westford School Department, Massachusetts, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Oconomowoc_Area_School_District_recall,_Wisconsin_(2020)&oldid=8841316, Pages using DynamicPageList dplreplace parser function, Unsuccessful or mixed outcome recall efforts, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. School districts | Youre not an expert on everything, youre not there to manage the day-to-day operations of the district.". All Rights Reserved. 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,. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. 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. 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. 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. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. "For those who did not vote for me I want to thank you for coming out and participating in the process. United States. Now, nearly half the board is . The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. We are doing it in many areas already. "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. Roehl said the climate surrounding school board meetings has become polarizing amid the pandemic and debates over safety. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. E- Excellence- Excellence in everything we do. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. 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. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. As I stated on the previous question our priorities are financial stability, increasing open enrollment into the district, focusing on the strategic plans, supporting administration and teachers, and selling the old Meadow View. "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. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. The girl succumbed to social isolation first and bullying and feeling left out through social media next. Second, is the unique opportunity to help students pursue their individual passion to a greater extent. In May, after Gov. R- Realistic Spending- Dont spend what you dont have. 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. Having said that, we are still losing some of our students to other districts and other schools. That mindset is the only way for us to grow as a district to go from good to great. 4.) Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. "I had people calling me up and screaming at me, people that have known me almost my whole life, parents calling up and saying 'You are making my kids wear masks, youre doing hybrid, youre bad people,'" she said. Oconomowoc was one of the only schools to raise student scores during the pandemic. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. Apply today! "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. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. 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. 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. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. 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. Providing support for the educators of our school district, who continue to do incredible work with our students. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline.