2.) Bill Thiel received the most votes with 5,311 (22%), Neal Ninmann was second with 4,989 votes (20%),. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Past board members began to work on personal agendas and that led to a great deal of dysfunction. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. 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 . I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. We need to bring this same level of excellence to the areas that still need improvement to get us there. Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter. 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. Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. I started to become interested in the school board position last year during the recall. I have also served on both local and national boards of directors. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. Anderson:First, is to focus on how we attract and retain the most talented teachers possible. The difference is in the approach. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. Recall supporters had 60 days to collect signatures from citizens in the school district. I also attended many school board meetings regarding masking and in-person classes. 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. The fact that the restrictions have been now lifted doesnt mean that the havoc caused by the lockdowns will disappear overnight. It will notbe my last.". The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. Oconomowoc's school board voted virtually Tuesday night to hold face-to-face classes in the fall with a couple alternatives. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. "I have worked on behalf of good government, and am proud of the work I have spearheaded and accomplished in my time on the board," Steitzer stated. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. 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. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. Ninmann:If elected, my priorities will remain that of supporting through policy, our district administration, teachers, staff and studentsas we focus on our strategic plan, graduate profile and fiscal responsibilities. United States. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. 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. 556 likes. 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.". Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. After the fourth member left, I decided to run for election in April. This is my first attempt at elective politics. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? 2023 www.jsonline.com. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. In a democratic society, we will agree and disagree on different matters, and that is healthy;variety of perspectives enriches the board. 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. 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. Our district is equipped for this and should respect and adjust to every students learning style and personal circumstances. Anderson:We all hope to get back to life as it was before masks. Alexandra Schweitzer garnered 3,200 votes and was followed by Steitzer with 3,010. 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. Schmitz:Based on the priorities I outlined in my previous answer, I am developing a proposal, a comprehensive plan that includes creative and innovative programs, initiatives and strategies to meet the needs of our students after the pandemic. "This feels different.". The board has turned a corner and is really moving forward. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. 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. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. "[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. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. 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. I am a strong believer in in-person classroom learning, and that has worked well for myself, my childrenand others for hundreds of years. The candidates are (top row, left to right): Andrew Anderson, Neal Ninmann (i), Sandy . 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. Ninmann:I was appointed in September 2021 to fill one of the quitting members' spots. 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. 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. 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. The candidates are:Andrew Anderson,Neal Ninmann (i),Sandy Schick (i),Paula Schmitz,Chad E. Schraufnagel (i) andBill Thiel (i). We can have a vigorous discussion, take our voteand all feel good about what we have accomplished. This can be accomplished by using the Strategic Plan. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. "Good people are not going to run for office when their reputation will be damaged because of partisan bickering," Steitzer said. 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. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. 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.". Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. Ford said theres also been a blurring between the district administrations role and the role of school board members. 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. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Another thing that is important to me and has been added to all the meetings are a time for discussion from the community. Counties | "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. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 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. Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. Schraufnagel:It is important for board members to support the school district as a whole and not get into personal projects. 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). "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. Look at our band andtheater programs, our internship and apprentice programs, all top in the state. After results came in, Steitzer released a message on her school boardFacebook page. 3.) You can help too. 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. You have permission to edit this article. I want Oconomowoc to be a destination school district for families outside of our boundaries. L- Leadership- You manage things; you lead people. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? SHARE. Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. I am excited to continue the momentum that the board has established. They'll be posting those vacancies immediately. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. [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. [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. We have developed a thick skin when we hear about another school shooting or a student being bullied, or a student committing suicide. 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. The recall effort was started by the group Oconomowoc Citizens Represented, who said Steitzer, Herro, and Roehl "willfully neglected to act on behalf of the citizens of the district. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. 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. Decisions should be based on collaboration and transparency. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. The school board recall success rate was 7.8%. TWEET. The four remaining school board members were in attendance, but no action was taken on one of the items that divided the board -- masks. 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. "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?" Incumbents Jessica Karnowski and James Wood received the most votes and will retain their seats. 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. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. 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. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. "The kids and the teachers had been doing a marvelous job throughout the year dealing with the masks," said Grothaus. 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. ft. home is a 4 bed, 3.0 bath property. Thiel:I have 4 priorities for the district. Schweitzer said she ran agrassroots, parent- and taxpayer-focused campaign. Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. This topic has become far too political, and Ill never predetermine a decision based on politics. 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. 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. Members James Wood and Jessica Kornowski voted against the proposal. 5.) State legislature | 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. Third, we deserve a school board that can operate for more than six months without creating negative headlines. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. The Pewaukee School Board faces a similar situation, where six candidates will vie. OCONOMOWOC The Oconomowoc Area School District School Board has four incumbents seeking reelection. State and local courts | Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. "I think a lot of members of the public dont understand that.". The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. On May 13, attorneys for the Oconomowoc Area School District School Board issued the letter to Alexandra . One of them was Juliet Steitzer, whose loss in Oconomowoc tipped the balance of power, setting the stage for the later resignations.