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Some want masks to be optional in schools, while others don't. 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. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. We can always do more and better in supporting studentswellness. "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. I support all programs and initiatives with no favorites. Follow him on Twitter at @Evanfrank_LCP. 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. Because of the contentiousness around COVID-19, Ford said things that would ordinarily fall in that "operational" category are instead being decided at the board level like mask requirements. The deadline to apply is Sept. 3. What a blessing this would be for parents! I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. [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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [1] The board voted to return all grades to in-person learning starting on September 28, 2020. Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Schmitz:As an educator and wellness researcher, I believe there are negative effects to breathing inside a mask. If the pandemic showed us anything, it is that kids learn the best in the classroom with a teacher. 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. 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. [5], Steitzer's term on the board expired in April 2021, and Herro's and Roehl's terms expired in April 2022.[1]. 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. Thiel:I attended meetings before the resignations and after the resignations. The county seat is Waukesha. 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. This is where all of the OASD Board of Education videos will be posted. [1][2] They were unable to collect enough signatures by the deadline. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. Sell the old Meadow View to fulfill the promise of the past board. 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. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. One of the main issues for the school board in the near future will be deciding on the district's next superintendent. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? The board filled the three vacant seats in Septemberby appointing Neal Ninmann, former board member Sandy Schick and Chad Schraufnagel. 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. Bottom line, we need to increase our market share. 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. 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. 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. 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. We dont believe that people want our community to be characterized by the divisive, bullying, selfish, partisan tactics that seem to be so prevalent today. It will notbe my last.". Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. Leadership by the board, in the district, in classroom, by the teachers, and by the students. Mar 24, 2022 Updated Mar 24, 2022. 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. TWEET. ContactEvan Frank at (262) 361-9138or evan.frank@jrn.com. I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. "Its like, whos the adult here?". SHARE. Steitzer became a board member in 2018 and said this year's election became overwhelmingly partisan. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. SHARE. How to vote | Schweitzer, who was a newcomer to running for school board, said she loved the process of campaigning. What programs or initiatives are most important to you? 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. "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. Thiel:I have always been involved with the schools as a stay-at-home dad for my three children who all attended the district. 5.) Schraufnagel:Since the appointment of myself and the threeother new board members, our meetings are focused on improving the school district. As of this week, the data and our district metrics are trending in the right direction, so barring any major changes to the data, I see a return to a full face-to-face approach on the horizon. 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. This can be integrated with the resources that the district already has in place and enrich them. "We will never know if we did too much, but we will most definitely know if we did too little," said one parent. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. 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. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website The board must focus on strategic alignment driving results and opportunity for students, teachers and parents. Schraufnagel:Masks should remain optional. The board vice president said the news caught him by surprise as he turns his focus to the future. Covid mitigation methods are what now-former board members expressed concern about in submitting resignation letters this week. 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. 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.". "Polyester masks, they're 37.8 percent efficient. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . "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. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. I dont have a medical background, but I do have a background in leveraging subject matter expertise to make tough decisions. "For those who voted for my message I say thank you," Schweitzer said. 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. What made you decide to run for the seat and what makes you a good fit for the role? A majority voted to keep requiring masks indoors through the end of the year, though kids could ditch them when they were outside. Read to your children. The chart below details the status of 2020 recall efforts by individual school board member. Now, nearly half the board is . Schraufnagel:If I am elected, I will continue to prioritize the following: 1.) The district is great with wonderful teachers, curriculum and facilities. We are doing it in many areas already. From left to right: Mike Sereno, Joe Koch and Jeridon Clark. "Spending time in the community I love has been an experience I will never forget," Schweitzer said. 'The Culture Became Caustic,' Said One Board Member. In-person learning includes more than book learning, like social interaction, dedicated learning spaces (not dining room tables)and much more. Three candidates remain in the search for a new Oconomowoc School Board Superintendent. Another priority is to continue building trust between the community and the school board that we will do what we say and act as trustees ratherthan activists. Duration: 01:58 8/16/2021. . "Thank you for those who supported my campaign. 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. As a mother of two high-schoolers, an educator, and an online course developer in health and wellness, I have been researching programs and interventions used successfully by other districts that we can bring to the OASD to support students who are hurting. Herro was in the last year of her term, which expired April 2022. OCONOMOWOC, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Dozens of Oconomowoc area school district parents are getting heated on the issue of face masks. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and 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. By following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidelines around wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing, he said most were able to remain open all school year. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. State legislature | "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. "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.". [8] 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,. 2023 by Wisconsin Public Radio, a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For questions or comments, contact WPRs Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444, email listener@wpr.org or use our Listener Feedback form. 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. Parents expressed concern, especially for younger students who aren't eligible for the vaccine, and concern over the politics taking place. The board is much more stable now than it was back then. 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. Our actions have an impact. However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. W359N6812 Brown Street. 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. We cannot engage in petty fights that dishonor the office. Oconomowoc has had an optional mask policy since the start of the 2021-2022 school year. If you make a promise keep it. "Its not a specific group thats necessarily capturing the board, but its the ideological conflict itself thats capturing the board," he said. 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.. I was part of that majority. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. If elected, what are your priorities for the district? We need to give our students coping tools to not live afraid. questioned one parent. Read full article. We must govern via smart policy and not by current events or pressure from outside influences. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie.