Contact info: pschmitz06@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/PaulaSchmitzCampaign; 262-490-7048, Address:N56 W35146 Pondview Lane,Oconomowoc, Past political experience:Current board member. Learn more about the Oconomowoc Area School District at www.oasd.org. The board did take a vote on replacing the three board members who left. Voters may cast a ballot for up to four of the six candidates. I want to see Student Personal Development days on the same days that their teachers have their PD days. State legislature | Tony Evers statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. We no longer employ consultants to work with the board on how to be board members. 'An impossible situation:' Members leaving school boards amid OCONOMOWOC, Wis. Three Oconomowoc Area School Board members have resigned together, citing toxic behavior within the board. 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. I wanted to make sure someone stood up to take accountability and I was most nervous about our district losing talented teachers. Finding ways to increase open enrollment into our school district. School board members resign in protest of COVID-19 handling - WISN School board members resign in COVID-19 protest - Yahoo! News "I would just like to thank them for their service to the Oconomowoc Area School District," said board member Scott Roehl. "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. My focus is clear: As a board member, I am there to represent the families in my district. All Rights Reserved. 8, North Dakota, El Rancho Unified School District, California, Pocatello-Chubbuck School District No. Counties, Place An Ad - Call 262-306-5000/email: Conleyclass@coneynet.com, Kam Jones scores 23 as No. We are in a good place right now and I want to make sure that we continue being financially strong. "[1], In reaction to the recall effort, Roehl said he preferred a face-to-face model as well. Schmitz:I believe in democracy and diversity. After 19 years on the Board, my experience can help with boardsmanship, general knowledge, history and more. Agendas for all regular board meetings, committee meetings, and special meetings are also available on the same site. "Well, my initial reaction was definitely surprise," said Scott Roehl, board VP. A- Accountability- Do what you say you are going to do. SHARE. The results are not official until they are canvassed. 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. Local school board races have been injected with partisan money and party . Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. 2021-22 OCONOMOWOC AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR (PDF LINK) 2022-2023 oconomowoc area school district website Oconomowoc Area School District: School Board "If we really start making things contentious, people are going to walk away and go, 'I cant take this anymore,'" he said. She said the reason was to cheer up one of them who had lost a 13-year-old niece to suicide. Aug 2006 - Jun 20158 years 11 months. . 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. ", RELATED:Two incumbents who favored virtual school lose their seats on the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District Board. You have permission to edit this article. Watch Oconomowoc Area School District's Oconomowoc Area School District Board of Education Meetings on Livestream.com. Oconomowoc, WI 53066. You have permission to edit this article. ", RELATED:Two incumbents ousted in a Waukesha School Board race partly defined by unrest over virtual learning. 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. "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. Counties | Schick:I applied for the school board vacancy when the three board members resigned. The Oconomowoc School Board saw lots of turnover in 2021, as four of its members resigned or left. 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 . Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board | Oconomowoc WI - Facebook Jessica Karnowski for Oconomowoc School Board, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. "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?" Students need to take in oxygen to learn and stay perky at school, not carbon dioxide by exhaling inside a mask. I am running to continue to move our school district in the positive direction. The Oconomowoc Area School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. Incumbent Jessica Karnowski and newcomers Juliet Steitzer and James Wood defeated incumbents John Suttner and Donald Wiemer. U.S. President | In previous decades, concerns about the teaching of sex education and evolution, as well as issues like school vouchers, have prompted angry public discourse and division among school board members. Oconomowoc Area School District Board of - Livestream 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 county seat is Waukesha. We build futures through partnerships, accountability and transparency. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. 3 Oconomowoc Area School Board members quit, citing toxic behavior and hyper-partisan environment. State executives | Rick Grothaus, Dan Raasch, and Kim Herro announced their. 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. In conversations with parents, teachers, and members of the community there is consensus that the school board can do better. Two incumbents and a political newcomer won the three seats up for election on the Oconomowoc Area School Board on April 6. As a former VP of a college, I know the debate around in-person versus virtual creates opportunity for innovation. 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. Footnotes. Oconomowoc Area School District Wi - schoolslearning.info There's also high interest in the Oconomowoc School Board, where six candidates are running for four seats. 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. In August 2020, five of the seven board members voted to start the school year with a combination of virtual and in-person learning. Two challengers have also entered the contest set for a vote April 5. We need to be smart with our tax dollars and do more with less. I've pledged not to accept donations from politically aligned special interest groups with pre-determined agendas. powered by finalsite About Us However, virtual learning for most students is not as effective as in-person learning. I believe strongly that serving as a representative of the community is a primary focus for a school board member and is the reason I am a good fit for the position. 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. Two of the seven at-large seats on the Oconomowoc Area School District school board were up for general election on April 5, 2016. Most students perform better when learning in person. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. One of our top priorities will be to review and respond to enrollment fluctuations by continuously focusing on investing in our teachers, buildings and curriculum both financially and through policy updates that give autonomy to district leadership. Oconomowoc School Board member Roehl to step down next week "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. COVID-related recalls accounted for 37% of all recall efforts in both 2020 and 2021. Keep updated on the latest news and information. Only ONE is too many, but the actual numbers are alarming! The work to avoid faction-based political infighting starts now. 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. I was so disappointed that at many of these meetings there was no opportunity for the community to speak. Now, nearly half the board is vacant, with some major decisions ahead. Did you know we were one of the few districts in the state that increased student performance last year during COVID? I have also mentored students at the high school in resume writing and interviewing skills and mentored students through Junior Achievement. I dont think we need some new program or initiative to get us there. In 2020, there were 87 COVID-related recalls against 89 officials, and in 2021, there were 131 against 214 officials. Believe it or not, that small step over time will also help us become a better district. The chart below compares coronavirus-related recalls to recalls for all other reasons in 2020, 2021, and 2022. View All Calendars is the default. The first question asks for $38.65 million for several projects . 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. [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. The community has referenced that a large majority of families elected to start school in a full face-to-face model. Feb 10, 2022 Updated Jun 3, 2022. 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. There is a list of health precautions including daily sanitizing of . 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. "They were shooting for her, there was a bullseye on her back," said Herro. 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. The district needs to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn. Of those priorities, what should the district focus on and why? I have served this district in many capacities over the last 6 years, both in leadership roles and on subcommittees.. 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. Sandy Schick (i); (bottom row, left to right). PRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $6.50 PER MONTH. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate was overturned, the Oconomowoc school board took up the issue. A student Brookfield East High School wears a mask during class Monday, March 15, 2021, in Brookfield, Wis. Angela Major/WPR. TWEET. Address: N56 W35146 Pondview Lane, Oconomowoc Past political experience: Current board member Community involvement: Current school board member, former Oconomowoc rec league coach.. Parents filled the Oconomowoc School Board meeting. 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. 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. Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign, cite toxic board behavior Oconomowoc Area School District: School Year Calendar. [2] [3] Results General election Vacating their seats are Rick Grothaus, Kim Herro and Dan Raasch. United States. Whilethere is a place for students who want to do online learning, it is not for all students. When the board and district make student achievement their top priority, the district and community win. My main reason for applying was to bring stability and history to the table. The impact of an amazing teacher is immeasurable, and weve all had teachers in our past that were less than exceptional. 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. 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,. ContactInformation: 920-948-7183 (cell), Address:N76 W36096 Saddlebrook Lane, Oconomowoc. Calendar . Delavan - Darien School District's DD Tech Administrator and CTE Coordinator, Michael Rick, discusses educational opportunities. The board voted 4-3 to choose him over Grothaus, who had served in the role for the year prior. 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. How to vote | PDF NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION - Oconomowoc Schools A statement from Interim Superintendent Kristen Taylor also focused on the future. The effort against members Juliet Steitzer, Kim Herro, and Scott Roehl began on September 17, 2020. I am currently a human resources director for a company in Merton. 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). Three Oconomowoc School Board members resign as board 'dragged into 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. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. Schick:Our resilient district has improved our ability to provide virtual learning during the challenges of the COVID pandemic. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Roehl'sseat is also up for election April 5. Ensuring that we are financially viable into the future. "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 district should focus on advancing these programs to meet the needs of the current times or we will be missing the boat. [7] The district was the 30th-largest school district in the state in the 2013-2014 school year and served 5,224 students. 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. I have no personal agenda and will work solely for the community, parents and our students. Oconomowoc Area School Board election results on April 5, 2022 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. OCONOMOWOC . Steitzer was one of three current school board members that the groupOconomowoc Citizens Represented attempted to recall in September. Community members launched a recall effort against three of the board members who voted for hybrid learning, including Herro. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Most students, however, prefer in-person learning and select that as their choice for a more traditional experience. supports HTML5 video. 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. Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF). Incumbent Juliet Steitzer was unseated in the election by. There is a place for some virtual learning, but I will always work with our district to provide in-person learning whenever possible. Thiel:We are very fortunate to have an excellent district to start with. Student Mental Fitness should be the top priority in the district.