Board Elections

The Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education has appointed Molly Smiltneek to fill the vacancy created by Liz Szilagyi's resignation in June. Smiltneek was selected from a pool of four candidates who interviewed during a Special Board Meeting in open session on Thursday, August 8. Her term will run through April 2025 and she will have the option to run for a full term in the April 2025 election.

Beth Wyman, OASD Board of Education president, stated, "Molly Smiltneek's commitment to education, focus on literacy, and experience in community engagement make her an excellent addition to our board. Her analytical approach and fresh perspective will enhance our decision-making process. We're confident Molly's contributions will help us continue improving educational outcomes for all students in the Oshkosh Area School District."

Smiltneek, a parent in the district, currently serves as a Contracted Immigration Attorney and Afghan Legal Services Coordinator for World Relief Wisconsin. Her career has consistently focused on immigration law, advocacy for minority communities, and providing legal services to underserved populations. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and community engagement through leadership roles in local organizations such as Oshkosh Allies in Literacy, Emmeline Cook Elementary School PTO, and the OASD Literacy Committee.

Regarding her appointment, Smiltneek said, "My vision for the Oshkosh Area School District is rooted in the belief that every student has the right to a quality education and they have a right to learn. As a board member, I recognize our duty to students, employees, and taxpayers. I am committed to engaging in constructive dialogue and making informed decisions that prioritize the best interests of our district, starting with our students and staff. By fostering open dialogue and truly hearing all voices, we can create an educational environment where literacy flourishes, every child has the opportunity to succeed, and we uphold our commitment to partnering with and serving our community.”

The board vacancy was filled in accordance with state law and board policy 0142.5. Applications were accepted July 3 - August 2, 2024.

Board President Wyman concluded, “On behalf of the school board, I want to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who stepped forward, offering their time and expertise to serve our district. Their willingness to engage in this process reflects the deep care our community has for public education in Oshkosh.”

Update as of August 5, 2024

The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) Board of Education has received applications from eligible residents to fill a vacancy following the resignation of board member Liz Szilagyi. The Board accepted Szilagyi's resignation at the June 12 Regular Board Meeting, effective June 28 due to her acceptance of an out-of-state employment opportunity. The appointed candidate will serve until the next regular election in April 2025. (NOTE: Vacancies on the school board are filled in accordance with state law and in compliance with the procedural guidelines outlined in board policy 0142.5. )

The application deadline of August 2 at 12:30 p.m. has now passed. The following candidates have submitted application materials:

• Denise Edwards
• Jana Garl (Withdrawn as of August 6, 2024)
• Kristopher Karns
• Sarah Nelson
• Molly Smiltneek

The next steps in the process are as follows:

• Each candidate must attend an in-person interview at a publicly noticed, televised meeting of the Board on August 8 at 5 p.m. On the same day, following the interviews, the Board will publicly consider all of the identified potential appointees and choose a candidate to fill the vacant seat.
• On or before the date of the board meeting at which the Board considers the potential appointees, each candidate must also submit a sworn declaration of eligibility to hold the vacant board seat. To schedule a time to complete this brief process, candidates should contact Eileen Fitzpatrick, OASD Executive Assistant Business Services, at 920.424,0120 ext 2013 or eileen.fitzpatrick@oshkosh.k12.wi.us.

The vacancy schedule and timeline is as follows:

• July 3, 2024 - Vacancy announcement / begin accepting applications (complete)
• August 2 - Resume and/or cover letter due at 12:30 p.m. (complete)
• August 8 at 5 p.m. - Special Board Meeting to interview candidates, review applications, and select/appoint a new member (public meeting, televised by Oshkosh Media)
• August 14 or August 28, 2024 - New board member to begin attending board meetings

The appointed candidate will serve until the next regular election in April 2025. If the individual appointed to serve this year wishes to continue serving on the Board, they must file in January 2025 to be a candidate in the April 2025 Board of Education election. 

The Board of Education is a team of seven people elected by school district voters to establish policy and set goals for the administration. They hold public meetings twice monthly, in addition to several committee meetings. For more information on the Board of Education, please visit the Board of Education page on the OASD website at oshkosh.k12.wi.us/board. 

The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) Board of Education is now accepting applications from eligible residents to fill a vacancy following the resignation of board member Liz Szilagyi. The Board accepted Szilagyi's resignation at the June 12 Regular Board Meeting, effective June 28 due to her acceptance of an out-of-state employment opportunity. The appointed candidate will serve until the next regular election in April 2025.

Vacancies on the school board are filled in accordance with state law and in compliance with the procedural guidelines outlined in board policy 0142.5. 

• Interested applicants must submit a resume and/or cover letter that includes why they are interested in serving on the Board, by 12:30 p.m. on August 2 to the Board President. Application material can be hand-delivered or emailed as follows:
  • Hand-delivered to: OASD Administration Office - Attention: Beth Wyman, 215 S Eagle Street, Oshkosh, WI, 54902
  • Emailed to: elizabeth.wyman@oshkosh.k12.wi.us 
• Each applicant/candidate must also attend an in-person interview at a publicly noticed, televised meeting of the Board on August 8 at 5 p.m. On the same day, following the interview(s), the Board will publicly consider all of the identified potential appointees and choose a candidate to fill the vacant seat.  
• On or before the date of the board meeting at which the Board considers the potential appointees, each potential appointee must also submit a sworn declaration of eligibility to hold the vacant board seat. To schedule a time to complete this brief process, please contact Eileen Fitzpatrick, OASD Executive Assistant Business Services, at 920.424,0120 ext 2013 or eileen.fitzpatrick@oshkosh.k12.wi.us. 

The vacancy schedule and timeline is as follows:

• July 3, 2024 - Vacancy announcement / begin accepting applications
• August 2 - Resume and/or cover letter due at 12:30 p.m.
• August 8 at 5 p.m. - Special Board Meeting to interview candidates, review applications, and select/appoint a new member (public meeting, televised by Oshkosh Media)
• August 14 or August 28, 2024 - New board member to begin attending board meetings

The appointed candidate will serve until the next regular election in April 2025. If the individual appointed to serve this year wishes to continue serving on the Board, they must file in January 2025 to be a candidate in the April 2025 Board of Education election. 

Interested candidates are encouraged to learn more about board member responsibilities and time commitments. More information is available below. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, an eligible candidate must be a citizen of the United states; 18 years of age or older; and a resident of the school district for at least 28 consecutive days at the time of filing a declaration of candidacy. 

The Board of Education is a team of seven people elected by school district voters to establish policy and set goals for the administration. They hold public meetings twice monthly, in addition to several committee meetings. For more information on the Board of Education, please visit the Board of Education page on the OASD website at oshkosh.k12.wi.us/board.