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. Superintendent Roger Rindo is leavingfor the same position in the Reedsburg School District. 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. 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 impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. "But where you start off with the entrenched ideological conflict, thats where its just destructive it makes governing impossible.". 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 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. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Former Oconomowoc School Board members Kim Herro, Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus resigned on the same day, stating the board had "been dragged into partisan culture. 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. However, we need to respect those who choose to still wear a mask. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Ballotpedia tracked 29 school board recall efforts against 64 board members in 2020. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. FOX6 News reached out to all three former members but none were available for an interview Monday. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. "I have gotten to know many people in our beautiful Oconomowoc area, and I would not trade this experience for anything. Our actions have an impact. More: Candidates for Oconomowoc mayor share views on growing inflation, infrastructure and public safety. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. My 19 years of experience demonstrate that I will be a well-prepared and an effective board member. 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,. 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. Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl were joined in approving the proposal by members Dan Raasch and Rick Grothaus. U.S. Congress | Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. Finding ways to increase open enrollment into our school district. Each candidate responded to our questionnaire about their experience and what they see as priorities for the district. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. 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. Schools Details: WebSchool Year Calendar - Oconomowoc Area School District.Quicklinks. SHARE. August 16, 2021, 4:06 PM. "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. 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. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach. The starting point in creating the best school district in the state is through talented teachers, and Im proud to accept the endorsement of the teachers in the district through the Oconomowoc Education Association. Neither Raasch nor Grothaus could be included in the recall as they had not yet served on the board for a full year. 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. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. 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. School Board Meetings and Agendas - oconomowoc.finalsite.com I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. 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. Tyler James, who did not actively run during the election, had 989 votes (5%). Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. Empowering a Community of Learners and Leaders. The letter states that the three members are also concerned about how Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor and remaining board members are responding to the pandemic. "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. Stay up-to-date on all the latest Oconomowoc news with a print subscription to The Enterprise: https://bit.ly/ocoent_sub. United States. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. 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. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. "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.". Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. A great group of administrators, staff and teachers. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. 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. With the requirements to give ample notice before bringing up issues, only being able to vote on items listed in their agenda, and meetings that typically occur only once a month, theyre hamstrung from acting quickly which could get frustrating when the understanding of COVID-19, and the disease itself, was rapidly evolving. Kim Kaukl, of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, said he got frustrated watching school board meetings where adults talked about what they thought was best for students, but didnt always listen to the students themselves. Many Wisconsin School Boards, Overwhelmed By 18 Months Of Community "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.". 2.) 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. "I was the board president during Act 10, so I understand a contentious audience, but this took it to a whole other level," said Terri Phillips, executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance and a former school board member. [1], The recall effort began when recall supporters filed paperwork with the school district on September 17, 2020. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. 3 Oconomowoc school board members quit, citing toxic behavior - TMJ4 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. 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. Mental fitness goes beyond being mentally sane; it includes developing a success mindset that can be applied to any discipline. Schmitz:A lady sat next to me on my flight back from a conference in Florida last November and told me she was traveling with a group of five school mothers on a first vacation together since 2020. 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. The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. Oconomowoc School Board meets following abrupt resignation of 3 - CBS58 Wood had the most votes with 5,279 (24%), followed by Karnowski's 5,010 votes (23%) and Carrico's 4,196votes (19%). I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. How to run for office | My viewpoints remain the same. Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. Current board members Ninmann, Schick, Schraufnagel and Thiel, along with challengers Paula Schmitz and Andrew Anderson, are running. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. . Oconomowoc School Board hires Elmbrook's Michael Sereno as next 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. 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. 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.