Tuesday, May 29, 2012

BOARD DESIGNATES FINALIST FOR SUPERINTENDENT POSITION

Stan Mack from Minneapolis was designated as the sole finalist for the position of superintendent of the Oshkosh Area School District at a special board meeting on Tuesday morning. Mack currently is Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of School Administrators, which is the licensure organization for school administrators in Minnesota. Prior to assuming that position in 2009, Mack was the superintendent of the 12,350 student Robbinsdale Area School District in suburban Minneapolis for nine years. Prior to Robbinsdale, Mack served as assistant superintendent in two large districts in suburban Minneapolis, for eight years in the Osseo Area Schools with 22,000 students and for four years with the Burnsville, Eagan, Savage School District with 10,000 students. Mack started his educational career in the South Saint Paul Schools as a Special Education Teacher and then Director of Special Services. He left South Saint Paul to assume responsibilities as superintendent of the Eveleth Area Schools and Eveleth Technical College and then as superintendent of the Northfield Area Schools.

Mack received his bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato, majoring in political science and his master’s degree from the University of Minneapolis with a major in educational psychology. He currently is completing his doctorate at the University of Minnesota with a major in education policy and administration. He anticipates receipt of the doctorate in 2013.

In his current position, Mack is responsible for overseeing the preparation, licensing and standards development for school principals, superintendents, directors of special education and directors of community education in the state of Minnesota, as well as investigating all allegations of unethical behavior among administrators currently licensed. As superintendent of the Robbinsdale District, Mack focused on the needs of a diverse student body, instruction, facilities and finances. During the course of Mack’ s nine years in the Robbinsdale School District, he initiated the change from a curricular based instructional program to a standards based instructional program, led and supervised the renovation of thirteen district schools, and the construction of a new elementary school. While there, he worked with the Board to develop a strategic plan that improved instruction and facilitated the reorganization of the district to make it more cost effective.

Upon appointment, Mack will establish his residence in Oshkosh. He is married and the father of three grown sons. His wife, Margaret, is a middle school principal. His twin sons will be entering their junior years of studies at the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota. His oldest son is a graduate of Saint John’s University and is a technology/information systems manager for a Minneapolis technology firm.

Mack emerged as the sole finalist after the Board conducted a national search for the replacement of Superintendent Don Viegut who has accepted the position of administrator for Cooperative Educational Service Agency 8. With the assistance of Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, a Chicago based school executive search firm, 26 individuals were identified as possible candidates for the position. The search firm identified five individuals that best met the Board’s criteria for the position and presented them to the Board for consideration. After meeting with the five individuals during the past week, the Board unanimously agreed that Mack had the strongest background and experience base to address the needs of the Oshkosh Area Schools and determined to identify one finalist for the position. School Board President John Lemberger, who was engaged in the past three searches for superintendents in Oshkosh, noted that the slate interviewed this year was the strongest slate he feels the Board has seen for the position, but that Mack’s successful experience in many areas that paralleled Oshkosh’s needs caused the Board to focus on him as the preferred candidate.

The Board anticipates employing Mack upon completing due diligence which includes additional reference checking, a comprehensive background check by an independent investigative firm and
agreement on an employment contract.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Here is what's playing this week on Eye on Oshkosh...



Be sure to join us starting Monday, May 21 when Cheryl and Dan spend the hour talking flooding, storms and storm safety. In the first segment they will be joined by Winnebago County Emergency Management Director Linda Kollmann who shares with us how to prepare for and keep yourself and your family and pets safe during severe weather. In the second half, Oshkosh City Manager Mark Rohloff and Public Works Director Dave Patek will stop by to talk about recent flooding in Oshkosh during heavy storms in early May, why the flooding occurred and what people can to do to help prevent flooding in their homes.

In the Oshkosh area, "Eye on Oshkosh" can be seen Mondays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. on local cable access channel 2 (Time Warner Cable). Check with your local cable company or its TV listings for replay times in other, more outlying areas. “Eye on Oshkosh” also may air at times other than just those listed. Check the guide on your cable access channel for other days and times, as well. “Eye on Oshkosh” is copyrighted and any unauthorized copying or use of any portion of the program is strictly prohibited by law.

Sunday, May 06, 2012

Here is what's playing this week on Eye on Oshkosh...

Be sure to join us starting Monday, May 7 when Cheryl and Dan talk with Angie McCarthy, executive director of the Day by Day Warming Shelter. She’ll explain how the first season went, how many people they served in the first season, if there were any problems as some in the community suspected there might be, what their plans are for the next season, and what people can do to help them now and later. In the second half, Al Wenig, director of recreation for the Oshkosh Area School District’s recreation department stops by to talk about the department’s summer programming, who it’s geared toward and how community youth, as well as adults, can get involved.

In the Oshkosh area, "Eye on Oshkosh" can be seen Mondays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. Check with your local cable company or its TV listings for replay times in other, more outlying areas. “Eye on Oshkosh” also may air at times other than just those listed. Check the guide on your cable access channel for other days and times, as well. Eye on Oshkosh is copyrighted and any unauthorized copying or use of any portion of the program is strictly prohibited by law.

Friday, May 04, 2012

News release: April traffic fatalities


Last month tied for the fourth safest month of April in terms of traffic deaths since the end of WWII

Last month, 41 people died in 35 crashes on Wisconsin roadways, which tied it for the fourth safest month of April in terms of traffic deaths since the end of World War II, according to preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).  The safest month of April since the end of World War II occurred in 1998 with 34 traffic fatalities, and the deadliest April was in 1977 with 113 fatalities.

Traffic fatalities last month were three more than in April 2011 but seven fewer than the five-year average for the month of April. As of April 30, a total of 152 people have died in Wisconsin traffic crashes this year, including 13 motorcyclists and nine pedestrians.  Traffic deaths through April were 24 more than the same period in 2011 but one fewer than the five-year average.

“Traffic deaths so far this year continue to be higher than the same period last year in large part because of unbuckled drivers and passengers who sustained fatal injuries while being ejected with tremendous force from a vehicle or tossed around violently inside it during a crash,” says State Patrol Maj. Sandra Huxtable, director of the WisDOT Bureau of Transportation Safety. “To prevent deaths and injuries, law enforcement agencies from all over Wisconsin will be out in force to crackdown on unbuckled motorists during the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization from May 21 to June 3. Whenever officers observe unbelted drivers and passengers, they will stop the vehicle and issue citations.  Officers are serious about safety belt enforcement because lives are destroyed, families are devastated, and society suffers substantial economic losses when people are needlessly killed or seriously injured in crashes because they were not wearing a safety belt.”

###

NOTE: View this document on the Web at www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/index.htm and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WisDOT


Wisconsin State Patrol Law of the Month: May 2012


Drivers must yield to pedestrians

Motor vehicles on average kill approximately 50 pedestrians and injure more than 1,300 each year in Wisconsin. To prevent these needless deaths and injuries, Wisconsin law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians:

§  Who have started crossing an intersection or crosswalk on a walk signal or on a green light if there’s no walk signal.

§  Who are crossing the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals.

§  When a vehicle is crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway.In addition, drivers may not legally overtake and pass any vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians at an intersection or crosswalk.

Drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are legally crossing roadways may be issued citations that cost approximately $175 to $232 (depending on the type of violation) along with four demerit points assessed on their license.  The cost of a fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians citation increases if it’s the second violation within one year. A citation for passing a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians costs $326 with three demerit points.

“To avoid hitting pedestrians, drivers must slow down and pay attention, so they can safely yield the right of way” said Lieutenant Tony Burrell of the Wisconsin State Patrol Northeast Region, Fond du Lac Post. “Drivers should be particularly alert in areas where children often cross roads, such as near schools, parks, playgrounds and residential neighborhoods. Pedestrians also must be cautious, and they should not suddenly move into the path of a vehicle that does not have sufficient time and distance to yield. While using their cell phones and other electronic devices, pedestrians should not become so distracted that they fail to pay attention to the traffic around them.”

###

View this document on the Web at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/law/index.htm

Thursday, May 03, 2012

City of Oshkosh Flooding Recedes - Thursday, 5/3/12 3:30 pm

Oshkosh, Wis. – The flooding caused by recent storms has now receded on City of Oshkosh streets, with the exception of the following areas: Ohio Street between 9th and 10th, South Main Street between 18th and 24th and Westfield and Taft. The Oshkosh Police Department has also indicated trucks should use 6th Avenue (East or West) for a truck route, and should not attempt to use Ohio Street. City crews are working to clear these streets as soon as possible.

Please do not call 911 to report flooding unless your basement appliances are submerged or otherwise underwater. Do not attempt to enter basement areas to address these issues.

The Oshkosh American Red Cross Office is providing people with free basic clean-up kits. These kits include a bucket, rubber gloves, hand brush, plastic tarp, cleaner/degreaser, bleach, sponge and mop. Those interested should call (920) 231-3590.

The City of Oshkosh would like to thank Oshkosh residents for their patience and
assistance during this incident.