Voters will cast ballots for four positions on the Churchill County School Board.
The incumbents running are Amber Getto and Matt Hyde. The other candidates are Julie Guerrero-Goetsch, Walter Henderson, Bill Post, Joe McFadden and Ivy Ward.
The Fallon Post and Lahontan Valley News are publishing the responses in both their print and online editions.
Walter Henderson did not return a questionnaire by the deadline to be included in the profiles.Amber Getto
My name is Amber Getto and I am 47 years old. I am a native Nevadan born and raised in Churchill County. I have been married to John Getto for 26 years and we have raised four children here, all of whom have graduated from CCHS. We currently farm over 1,200 acres in this valley, and are co-owners of Desert Oasis Teff & Grain.
I am running for re-election because I am determined to continue the work put in place by the board. Over the past two years, the governance team has worked diligently to realign policy and set goals that focus strictly on student achievement. Many of these new strategies are developing and the data collection process has just begun. I look forward to the opportunity to see these plans through. The board is committed to prioritizing student outcomes, which is sometimes difficult to do in an adult ran system.
Amber Getto
CCSD’s Purple Star designation is a superior way to show our commitment to military families. It is something the entire community can be proud of and something the district will continue to honor. As far as building upon that designation, keeping open communication and a strong working relationship with our military liaison will be key.
In addition, the relationship between the district and military could be strengthened by inviting our active military personnel to volunteer in our schools. There are lots of ways in which their participation could create more connections with students and contribute to learning. There was a time when some of our military men and women would come to school and teach self-defense. I would like to see opportunities like that return to our campuses.
The school district has outsourced food services. Would you be in favor or not in favor if the school board wanted to extend outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation?
Topics such as these are extremely complicated and sensitive. As a trustee, financial solvency is critical. At the exact same time community relationships and quality control are a priority. When a superintendent makes proposals, board members must remain open minded. Outsourcing has been in front of the board since I have been elected, and as you can see, we still handle janitorial and transportation within the district. I am committed to continue doing what is best for students.
In selecting superintendents during the past 32 years, trustees have selected only one candidate from the local school district. Should the district continue with this trend or should the district develop administrative talent from within the district who would be qualified to lead the school district and build upon the status quo?
As a trustee I have not gone through the Superintendent selection process, but I am 100% in support of the district developing administrative talent from within. Since my time on the board we have begun an aspiring leaders program. Superintendent is a terribly demanding job and I hope to see highly qualified local applicants.
Would you favor the continuation of the partnership between the school district and Western Nevada College by expanding more programs for high-school level classes? Please explain.
I fully support the continuation of the partnership with WNC and CCHS. Although I do not believe every student can benefit from such programs, I want the district to be able to offer as many varied learning opportunities as possible. At a time when hiring enough educators gets more and more difficult, districts have to think outside the box of traditional high school and strive to meet every student’s needs.
School districts across the state have experienced problems in hiring staff and then keeping them in the rural setting. As a trustee, what would you do to help Human Resources attract more educators and keep them in Churchill County?
In fact, school districts across the nation have struggled to retain educators. It is very disheartening to say the least. One of the keys to retention is creating a work environment in which the employees feel valued and supported. Supporting teachers in their classroom when it comes to discipline is a priority of mine. Also valuing their work by paying them more is also a top priority of mine, which has proven difficult with the budget the state gives us to work with.
What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our current school system?
Strengths — Teachers and staff who work so hard to meet the needs of every student.
Weakness — Inadequate funding. State legislators who haven’t been in a classroom in decades, social media misunderstandings.
What is the one biggest change, issue, improvement you would like to see occur or would you advocate for during your term on the school board?
I’d like to see the state of Nevada fund education first from their budget and then fund everything else. I would also like to see more parental involvement at all levels and more early intervention at the middle school levels.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how much opportunity would you have to spend observing and talking to staff at school sites?
My opinion is that I hope all staff knows that I am more than willing to chat any time. All of my contact info is public. I love visiting all of the schools and attending events and volunteering at different sites. It’s honestly one of the highlights of this position.
How would you proceed if your opinion is different from the rest of the board – would you be willing to stand your ground, build a coalition, or go with the flow?
I am not afraid to stand my ground. My voting record proves that. I’m also in favor of tabling big decisions that require more time and research.
What would your support level be for maintaining or improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school?
As a small business owner in the agricultural industry, I have the highest level of support for the CTE programs. I would love to see CTE expanded to the Middle School level.Julie Guerrero-Goetsch
I’ve lived in Fallon for over 22 years and raised my family here. My oldest daughter attends UNR and was a graduate of CCHS and my youngest daughter attends eighth grade at CCMS. I currently serve as the administrative services manager for Churchill County, where I’ve worked for over 18 years, so I am no stranger to local government and public service to our community.
Through the years I’ve served on several committees and boards, some of which include past president of the Navy League, current recording secretary for the Fallon-Churchill Fire Board, and current vice chair of the county’s Insurance Advisory Committee. I also work with a number of other boards, including the county commission. I have experience and understanding in open meeting law, ethics, government budgeting, creation of policy, goal setting, performance evaluations, etc.
My experience has given me a solid foundation coupled with a vested interest in the improvement of our school district. School board trustees are elected by the people to represent the people. I would be humbled with the opportunity to represent our community and put my knowledge and skills to use as a trustee.
Julie Guerrero-Goetsch
The Churchill County School District has been designated a Purple Star school district that shows a commitment to students and families connected to the military. How can the school district build upon that designation?I commend the Churchill County School District for becoming the first Purple Star-designated district in Nevada. Churchill County is a proud military community and home to Naval Air Station Fallon. The average military child will experience six to nine different schools between K-12. Moving every one to three years, many military families look for top-rated and high-achieving schools that position their children to succeed and easily transfer into large city junior high and high schools.
The district needs to demonstrate a commitment to raising the bar for education, so students are well prepared for the academic rigor at their next school. The district should also continue working closely with NAS Fallon’s school liaison officer to ensure the new programming put into place at each of our schools is meeting the needs of the military-connected children and families.
The school district has outsourced food services. Would you be in favor or not in favor if the school board wanted to extend outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation?
I am interested in achieving process improvement and cost efficiencies; however, the safety, interest, and well-being of our children must come first. While there may be some services that are efficiently handled through professional contracts, careful consideration must be given when evaluating in-house versus outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation. Dedicated career employees of the district who work as a team have a vested interest in their job, our children, and the program or service they provide.
I have heard from employees of the district over the years who have voiced significant concern regarding the interactions and relationships that devoted, observant, caring employees have with our students versus strangers working for a third-party contractor. I also have firsthand experience with the pros and cons of contracted services as an employee of the county. While outsourcing may present an initial savings (on paper), there tends to be a greater cost over time with giving up direct control over who is hired, how services are provided, future contact increases, loss of institutional knowledge, loss of jobs in our community, and a loss to our students and staff.
In selecting superintendents during the past 32 years, trustees have selected only one candidate from the local school district. Should the district continue with this trend, or should the district develop administrative talent from within the district who would be qualified to lead the school district and build upon the status quo?
Selection of a superintendent should be for the best talent and best fit for the needs of our district. The role of the superintendent is to carry out the mission, vision, and goals of the board, so it is vital for the board to work with the community ensuring transparency and clarity on what those goals are, and then hold the superintendent responsible. Our local teachers and administrators should have opportunities to broaden their talents, capabilities, and qualifications.
Our track record indicates the board tends to hire from outside the district, which means that either teachers and administrators are not provided with ample professional development opportunities or there is a bias toward outside candidates. The emphasis should be on selection of the best talent to carry out the goals of the board and the best fit for our district and community.
Would you favor the continuation of the partnership between the school district and Western Nevada College by expanding more programs for high school-level classes?
Our district is fortunate to have a local community college that is an engaged partner providing opportunities for our students. I absolutely favor continuing this partnership and expanding programming for high school students. My own child benefited from this partnership a couple years ago, while attending CCHS. Among the high school student population, there is a vast array of interests and abilities.
I support programs and opportunities that help set our students up for success, whether for college-bound students who can complete college credits at little to no cost to their families or for students seeking career and technical education programs.
School districts across the state have experienced problems in hiring staff and then keeping them in a rural setting. As a trustee, what would you do to help Human Resources attract more educators and keep them in Churchill County?
As a trustee, I will work to ensure we create a positive environment where teachers feel heard and supported. I’ve had personal conversations with multiple teachers from each of our schools, and while pay scales need to be competitive and comparable with districts of similar size, the number one most-common issue that teachers brought up was not feeling supported and trusted to do their job.
Teachers want to teach, and many feel they are bombarded with too many assessments, trainings, and meetings that overburden and take them away from preparation in the classroom. Policies need to be clear and consistent among the schools. If teachers are supported and feel like a valuable member of a team, they are far more apt to stay within our district.
What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our current school system?
One of the strengths is our teachers, many of whom go over and above, and truly give their best to our students. We also have some excellent athletic programs that have achieved outstanding results and positive recognition.
Some of our weaknesses include annual changes to school schedules and calendars which pose challenges for students and families; behavior issues and lack of consistency with discipline which creates frustration for teachers and disruption to students; academic performance; graduation rates; lack of support for our teachers; and teacher retention. Many of these issues are intertwined and must be addressed to create a positive culture that attracts and retains great educators.
What is the one biggest change, issue, improvement you would like to see occur or what would advocate for during your term on the school board?
The biggest improvement I would like to advocate for is student proficiency and graduation rates. The Nevada Department of Education recently released the 2021-22 school year accountability report cards. Of the 17 Nevada counties (Carson included), Churchill County ranked 15th out of 17 counties with a 79.91% graduation rate, and although that represents an improvement over the past five years, we can and should do better.
Our high school specifically had the most dramatic impacts to ELA and Math proficiency rates when comparing pre-covid 2018-19 to 2021-22, which shows a drop of 8.1% in ELA to 44.7% proficiency and a drop of 7.7% in Math to 16.2% proficiency. In other words, 55.3% of students at CCHS are not proficient in ELA and 83.8% are not proficient in Math. Elementary and Middle school have similar struggles in these areas. There are a lot of components that go into improving proficiency, and it starts with improving the culture and learning environment for teachers and students.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how much opportunity would you have to spend observing and talking to staff at school sites?
Communication between board and staff, including visiting our schools is vitally important. The superintendent is hired to carry out the goals of the board through effective, positive leadership, but teachers, staff, and school administrators are the “boots on the ground” and along with students are those most impacted by the board’s direction and the superintendent’s implementation.
Therefore, the board should have open communication with staff, a culture and policies that support this communication, and time visiting all schools on a regular basis to observe the wheels in motion.
I am passionate about open communication with staff and committed to spending time observing in our schools. Trustees need to avail themselves to as much information as possible as they are decision makers and need to see firsthand how the decisions they make positively or negatively impact our schools, teachers, and students.
How would you proceed if your opinion is different from the rest of the board – would you be willing to stand your ground, build a coalition, or go with the flow?
If my opinion differs from the rest of the board, I will communicate. I would seek to understand other trustees’ positions, even if I do not agree, and then I’d share my own. Through listening and sharing my thoughts and opinions, I may change the minds of others. Much can be learned through open, transparent communication. There will and should be times that there is not a consensus amongst the trustees. Most importantly, is any member of the public, staff, and other trustees understand why I vote for or against something. Trustees are elected by the people to represent the people, not to “go with the flow.”
What would your support level be for maintaining or improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school?
I am supportive of maintaining and improving CTE programs at CCHS and CCMS, and I was pleased to hear this summer that CCHS and WNC introduced the “Building Your Future Story Starts Here” program for students interested in earning certificates in welding, HVAC, auto, and machine tool technology, as well as programs for students interested in nursing, teaching, law enforcement, and cybersecurity.
Providing opportunities for student achievement for both college-bound students and those interested in learning a trade through CTE programs are vital to ensure successful futures for all students.
Matt Hyde
I was born and raised in Fallon. I went to grades K-12 in Churchill County and graduated in 1991. I have been married to my wife Nicole for 28 years and have four children, Kayley, Conley, Chase and Trevor. Trevor is currently a sophomore at CCHS. I have served on the school board for the past eight years and hope to be re-elected for my last term. I have been a board member with a focus on student achievement from day one.
I currently serve on the NASB Legislative Committee, Safety and Security Committee. I was also voted in as the NIAA Control Board member for region II. NIAA control board is a three-year commitment of which I have two years remaining. If not re-elected the NIAA seat would likely be filled by Douglas or Carson. In the past four years I’ve served as president of the board for two and vice president for two. I have coached youth sports for 22 years, and knew early in my coaching career that I always wanted to advocate for kids.
In the eight years I’ve been on the board our peers from across the state have voted our board the governance team of the year. I would like to be re-elected to see our district goals set by our board this summer met, as well as continue to advocate for students and staff. I will always follow facts and be a student-centered board member and vote accordingly.
Matt Hyde
It’s important to continue to keep an open line of communication open between the school district and the Navy base. These students and families are required to move often which can make for a difficult transition. Nicole Jullanant is the school liaison officer for the Navy base. We need to continue working with Jullanant to ensure the needs of these students are met.
The school district has outsourced food services. Would you be in favor or not in favor if the school board wanted to extend outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation?
No
In selecting superintendents during the past 32 years, trustees have selected only one candidate from the local school district. Should the district continue with this trend or should the district develop administrative talent from within the district who would be qualified to lead the school district and build upon the status quo?
The board should hire the most qualified person available. The process to hire a superintendent is done in public meetings with input from the public. I believe at this time if we were to lose our current superintendent we have made some changes structurally within our administration, that put us in a very strong position to hire within. One advantage of getting the district in the position to hire within, is the understanding of the community and the relationships that have been built within the community.
Would you favor the continuation of the partnership between the school district and Western Nevada College by expanding more programs for high-school level classes? Please explain.
I’m for giving our students every opportunity to do the coursework necessary to help them be career- or college-ready. With that being said, if we have the resources to accommodate the students in-house, I prefer to do so.
School districts across the state have experienced problems in hiring staff and then keeping them in the rural setting. As a trustee, what would you do to help human resources attract more educators and keep them in Churchill County?
This country is in a teacher shortage crisis. I believe it stems from a couple of main issues. The first being the starting salary for a teacher is far too low. When you couple that with soaring cost of living, graduating with a degree in education has become not very enticing. Here, out West, the cost of housing has become a real issue for new teachers. I would like to invest in transitional housing for new teachers to help with attracting new graduates. I think as a district we need to explore ways to sell our great community and market ourselves as the outdoor destination we are.
What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our current school system?
I say without a doubt our staff is the greatest strength of our school system. They have faced some real challenges over the last couple of years and have answered the call time and time again. Our weakness is funding. Through NAFIS (National Association of Federally Impacted Schools), we need to continue to advocate for the full funding of Federally Impacted Schools. Currently Nevada ranks 39th in the nation in spending per pupil, which is better than 50th that it was eight years ago when I first took office. We must keep advocating to our state legislators and show good stewardship of those tax dollars. We must show improvements in student achievement with tax dollars spent.
What is the one biggest change, issue, improvement you would like to see occur or would you advocate for during your term on the school board?
I would like to see our graduation rate at a minimum of 90% and have students college- or career-ready upon graduation.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how much opportunity would you have to spend observing and talking to staff at school sites?
I believe it is important to visit schools; however, I don’t want to be a distraction to staff or students. I like to visit to look at the facilities and get a feel for the culture of the school. I do have a full-time job but I currently have a flexible lunch time that allows for visits. I prefer a formal invite from a teacher if I were to spend a sizable amount of time in their classroom, just out of professional respect. I always let the principal know I’m on site or going to be on site.
How would you proceed if your opinion is different from the rest of the board – would you be willing to stand your ground, build a coalition, or go with the flow?
Good discussion is a must. I defiantly hold my ground and debate my stance. I have also entered a meeting thinking I knew how I was going to vote and received more facts, which flipped my vote. I believe in facts over emotion, and you can disagree respectfully which creates an environment of open communication and good governance.
What would your support level be for maintaining or improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school?
I am a product of CTE programs at CCHS. I was a student that was never planning on furthering my education through college. These are vital classes to get students career-ready. At my request we are currently working to put on a round table that will include some of our past CTE educators and interested public members to share ideas on better meeting the needs of employers. We have to provide these students with the skills to enter the workforce and be of value to employers.
Joe McFadden
I was born in Glendale, Arizona, in 1986. I moved to Fallon in 1998 where I joined Churchill County Middle School. During my high school career, I was an involved member of JROTC, FFA, Agricultural mechanics, Skills USA and the swim team. After graduating in 2004, I started a four-year electrical apprentice training with the ABC program while working on the job at McFadden Electric. In the past few years, I have passed the state contractors board testing and became a managing member of McFadden Electric. I have three children that attend schools within CCSD. I am very involved in all of their sporting endeavors, as well as, coaching and/or assisting whenever possible.
I have multiple friends and family members that teach or work in other positions in CCSD. I feel there is a need for grounded, logical leadership that aligns with Fallon values. My goals for the district would be, make sure every student is given the highest level of education possible, make sure graduating students are given the tools to lead a successful life after school, pursue a strong stance on anti-bullying and discipline policy and working with parents, community members, teachers and staff to address concerns with the district policies.
Joe McFadden
With an active-duty population of around 1,100 of which almost 200 are military connected students, Churchill County has a unique opportunity and honor to serve our military learners and families. Being a child in a military family comes with a large amount of adversity. With the Navy base a huge part of this community and a large portion of the student population, a dedicated focus on these special challenges should continue to be prioritized. The district has made great progress in building a relationship with the military liaisons and base staff. This consorted effort should be continued with building upon our transitioning support, enrollment process, addressing curriculum gaps, and support structure for these students.
The school district has outsourced food services. Would you be in favor or not in favor if the school board wanted to extend outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation?
I have a few family members serving in support roles for the district. I believe that outsourcing positions to a company that does not have our community and/or students as their priority is a huge mistake. These crucial district employees that work behind the scenes to assist our students are an invaluable asset. Yes, a service company may look good on paper and may save a few dollars the first year or so but will end up raising their rates and not providing the dedicated service our children deserve. Saving a few dollars should not supersede hiring employees with a vested interest in our students and community.
In selecting superintendents during the past 32 years, trustees have selected only one candidate from the local school district. Should the district continue with this trend or should the district develop administrative talent from within the district who would be qualified to lead the school district and build upon the status quo?
As with most business models, hiring and promotions should be from within the district and to individuals with a stake in the community and have a proven record of leadership and actions. Administrative positions should be trained and capable to advance their roles in the district. This will allow for better consistency with administrative changes and alleviate the roller coaster of administrative styles we have seen in the past.
Would you favor the continuation of the partnership between the school district and Western Nevada College by expanding more programs for high-school level classes? Please explain.
Collaborating with the college to provide our students as many educational and vocational options as possible is a great thing. This brings in another level of resources for our students and further helps the district cater the students individual learning levels and needs. The district's current programs that give the students a jump start into their college career, while still in high school, is a beneficial tool for helping students enter the workforce as a successful adult.
School districts across the state have experienced problems in hiring staff and then keeping them in the rural setting. As a trustee, what would you do to help Human Resources attract more educators and keep them in Churchill County?
Filling a licensed teacher position with an unqualified person is not a sustainable solution to our teacher shortage. This cheats our students from the focused, safe, high-quality education they deserve. As a district we should be working with interested employees in furthering their training to obtain full licensure. Making sure our administration listens and values the input from staff is imperative as well as supporting the staff in day-to-day operations. Offering competitive wages and benefits also needs to be a high priority.
What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our current school system?
Our strength is our loving and dedicated staff that daily serve our children. One of our great weaknesses is the overbearing role the state and federal government has in the local school district. Our small, rural community is governed by large, metropolitan districts, and we are losing our voice in how to operate our local schools in accordance to our communities' values.
What is the one biggest change, issue, improvement you would like to see occur or would you advocate for during your term on the school board?
One of my main focuses will be to raise parental involvement in their child's education. The importance of asking how your child's day was, helping with homework or reading with them for 10 minutes at night cannot be overstated. Working to spread awareness in school events, district communications, volunteering opportunities, and classroom involvement are areas I would like to see improvement in. As parents we are our child's greatest advocate/asset and should work tirelessly to get them the greatest education available.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how much opportunity would you have to spend observing and talking to staff at school sites?
I greatly look forward to visiting the schools often and communicating with the staff regarding district concerns, issues as well as achievements. In order to make meaningful and effective policy and district decisions, a trustee needs to be up to date in all matters regarding the district.
How would you proceed if your opinion is different from the rest of the board — would you be willing to stand your ground, build a coalition, or go with the flow?
A certain level of cooperation with the administration and other trustees is
essential for progress in the district. However, I will firmly stand my ground and support the position and opinion of the community that elects me into this position.
What would your support level be for maintaining or improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school?
The C.T.E. program is near and dear to my heart. As a student of the vocational classroom, member of numerous clubs and groups as well as operating a business of the trades, I live the importance of this educational offering. I am first to realize that a college degree is not for everyone, and a passion for hard work should not be condemned. This program needs the full attention of the district to make sure it is offering the best career and technical training to these young adults that will be the future of our workforce.
Bill Post
My name is Bill Post and I moved to Fallon from Oregon a year ago. My career background is in broadcasting (TV and radio) but I most recently I finished my time as a state representative (Assemblyman) in the Oregon Legislature. I served four terms in the Oregon House. In that time, I worked on many pieces of legislation but most importantly for this position, I worked on and voted on multi-billion dollar K-12 budgets for the state every two years. My wife is a 30-plus year special education teacher. Most of what I know about education comes from being around her.
I am running for the school board for the same reasons I ran for state representative. I love Churchill County and I want to make a positive difference. I believe in service to our community. Several community members asked me late last year to run and after careful consideration I agreed to. One of the biggest “knocks” against me is I’m “new guy.” I believe that that is an advantage for the school board and the district. I am not tied to anyone or anything in this county. Meaning I have fresh eyes, fresh ears and new ideas that are not affected by who I know or who I am connected to in the community.
I see quite a few issues that need to be addressed in our school district and I am ready to roll up my sleeves and go to work. For our kids’ futures, for our teachers’ benefit and for the overall good of this great community.
Bill Post
I have a deep and abiding love, honor and respect for our veterans and our active military and can never thank them enough for what they did and do for our freedoms. I’m so glad to hear of this designation and would do whatever is necessary to maintain that designation. Specifically, I’d like to see more time spent between students and military, especially veterans in the community. Activities that can teach our kids something important yet also help out our veterans. We have several great veterans’ groups here in Churchill County so let’s get them as involved as we possibly can.
The school district has outsourced food services. Would you be in favor or not in favor if the school board wanted to extend outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation?
I would not be in favor of further outsourcing. Sometimes saving money is not as important as saving community. I believe it was a mistake to outsource the food services. I grew up on a school lunch that was provided by the mothers in our community. And of course, the “lunch lady” who coordinated all of that. We received healthy and nutritious meals that were “home cooked” in our school kitchens.
In selecting superintendents during the past 32 years, trustees have selected only one candidate from the local school district. Should the district continue with this trend or should the district develop administrative talent from within the district who would be qualified to lead the school district and build upon the status quo?
I absolutely believe that we must work within the district to find our superintendent. Not only the superintendent but all administration positions, as much as possible, should come from within the district. This accomplishes two things: it gets us a person who knows the district well and can lead with that knowledge and it gives hope to those who are teaching now and trying to further their careers in education. They don’t have to advance their career by moving to another state. They can find that in Churchill County.
I strongly believe that we must find talent from within the district and do whatever it takes to help them get the certificates and education they need to advance into administration.
Would you favor the continuation of the partnership between the school district and Western Nevada College by expanding more programs for high-school level classes? Please explain.
Short answer: yes. Long answer: Only if it does not get in the way of anything being done at the high school. No classes at WNC should take precedence over the high school.
School districts across the state have experienced problems in hiring staff and then keeping them in the rural setting. As a trustee, what would you do to help Human Resources attract more educators and keep them in Churchill County?
The problem that I see is that “attracting” people to the district is difficult when the district is not “attractive.” The easy answer is to pay more. And yes, we should pay more to our teachers and support staff. We can also do the little things that make CCSD more attractive to prospective teachers. Make sure that a prospective teacher is fully compensated for all years worked in education. Let them know that there is a chance for advancement. Make sure that they are receiving the best benefits possible. It’s almost a separate issue to keep them in CCSD. As trustee, I will work closely with HR to make sure that our district is keeping our teachers happy.
What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our current school system?
I believe that the strengths of the district are: the community pride and the great teachers and support staff in this district. I can’t thank them enough for their sacrifice every day. The weaknesses are: the amount of bullying in the schools, the school bus system and the administration. Strong leadership is needed to improve those areas.
What is the one biggest change, issue, improvement you would like to see occur or would you advocate for during your term on the school board?
I would like to see more development of the career and technical education program. We are in a time of great need for blue collar workers with the aging out of the “boomers” and “millennials” in so many careers. No kid should feel that college is their only course after high school. There are so many jobs that are lucrative and life lasting for our kids after high school. I know the program is available but, would like to see more money and more support and more promotion.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how much opportunity would you have to spend observing and talking to staff at school sites?
Here is where my being “new guy” can be a bit of a liability. I am not as knowledgeable on this issue. I don’t have kids in the district. So, I can’t answer the first part but can the second part. I will spend a lot of time talking to students and staff at school related events. I intend to visit often and hold “listening sessions” as informal gatherings for staff, students and parents so that I can hear what they are most concerned about.
How would you proceed if your opinion is different from the rest of the board – would you be willing to stand your ground, build a coalition, or go with the flow?
It depends on the situation. I will stand my ground on certain issues and not waiver one bit. I’d prefer to build coalitions and get more done. I will never “go with the flow.” I don’t “go along, to get along.” That accomplishes nothing.
What would your support level be for maintaining or improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school?
I think that answer is within the seventh point. I will do whatever it takes to improve the CTE program. It’s importance can’t be stressed enough.
Ivy Ward
First, I graduated from Churchill County High School. My father worked civil service for the government most of my life, including here at the base and in Hawthorne. I credit this community with my success. I am currently working toward my BA in Early Childhood Education at Great Basin College.
I am running for school board because I believe that I can help improve our school district. I care about our kids, and I want them to have a great experience going to school. Our teachers need to know that we support them and our parents.
Ivy Ward
I have a unique experience with moving every two to four years just like military kids since my father worked civil service all of his life. We moved to many destinations for my father to work on a military installation. It’s hard to come to a new school! These students must adjust, and we need to help them adjust and be flexible with their needs. I would like to improve counseling services by giving them a “go-to” person to assist with their needs. I would like to offer more opportunities to join extracurricular programs.
The school district has outsourced food services. Would you be in favor or not in favor if the school board wanted to extend outsourcing for janitorial services and transportation?
I am not in favor of outsourcing anything! Outsourcing our meals, transportation and janitorial services should not be an option. We should be employing our own community members who live in Churchill County.
In selecting superintendents during the past 32 years, trustees have selected only one candidate from the local school district. Should the district continue with this trend, or should the district develop administrative talent from within the district who would be qualified to lead the school district and build upon the status quo?
Our school board needs to develop the talent within our community! We have qualified people that understand our community and our children’s needs. It is important that our teachers feel they have an opportunity for career growth and development that can include becoming the superintendent of the district they choose to work in.
Would you favor the continuation of the partnership between the school district and Western Nevada College by expanding more programs for high-school level classes?
Yes, I would favor the continuation of partnerships between Western Nevada College as I feel all children who wish to pursue an early degree should have the ability to do so. I would like to see trade programs and hands on skills like agriculture, and construction be presented as an educational option as well. All children that wish to pursue an early degree should be able to do so. In the same way that we should also support trade and agricultural classes for students that do not wish to pursue college.
School districts across the state have experienced problems in hiring staff and then keeping them in a rural setting. As a trustee, what would you do to help Human Resources attract more educators and keep them in Churchill County?
After speaking with many teachers that have left our district, I believe the most important thing we can offer a teacher is real support for issues in the classroom and offer true solutions to the problems they are facing. Many of our teachers are overwhelmed with additional responsibilities with failed support from administration. Teachers need to be heard and given assistance when they ask for it. Teachers are leaving for a reason, why are we not asking them why they are leaving?
What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of our current school system?
Our greatest weakness is staffing. Hands down, we need to recruit and hire qualified teachers, staff, including transportation. Our greatest strength are the children we serve. We should make our children a priority.
What is the one biggest change, issue, improvement you would like to see occur or what would advocate for during your term on the school board?
The biggest change I would like to see is excellent communication between the board and all school district employees. Most of the district employees feel there is a huge disconnect with administration. Requests for help are ignored, children that are disruptive in class are not given any repercussions, and this is not acceptable. The school board must intervene and allow district employees the opportunity to speak freely about issues in class and around the district. It is the responsibility of the school board to ensure that district administration is responsive to the needs of our staff and students.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how much opportunity would you have to spend observing and talking to staff at school sites?
The school board should be welcome to visit the schools at any time. We should be able to speak to the staff and teachers. There should be no fear of consequences for a district employee to seek us out and speak their mind. I would be willing to spend 20 hours per week visiting schools and classrooms. Currently, I believe there is a huge disconnect between the school board and the school district employees. This must be fixed.
How would you proceed if your opinion is different from the rest of the board – would you be willing to stand your ground, build a coalition, or go with the flow?
Owning my own business for the past seven years has taught me many lessons in communication. I am not a go with the flow kind of person. I will stand my ground on issues that I believe are important. I will also look for facts to back up what I believe to be the best course of action. My goal is to make good decisions based on facts, not gossip.
What would your support level be for maintaining or improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school?
I am 100% for improving the Career and Technical Education programs at the high school and middle school. Not all kids want to go to college and that is fine. Let’s provide educational options that allow them to enter trade programs or schools. Our children need agricultural, trade and career skills available to them to work and make decisions about their lives. We need to provide these opportunities for them.
