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-run system.
Churchill County 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?
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 the 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 was elected, and as you can see, we still handle janitorial and transportation within the district. I am committed to continuing to do 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 schools 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, or 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 level.
What is your opinion about communication between the board and the staff, visiting schools, and how many opportunities 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 CTE programs. I would love to see CTE expanded to the Middle School level.
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