School Board Election

Background:

Trustee Minetto was first elected to District B in November 2018. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance and was certified to be a teacher.  She has been a resident in Reno since 1980. Her two twin girls graduated from Hug High School and her son graduated from TMCC. She was a WCSD Music Teacher for 31 years.

 

Platform:

Unsure.  Ms. Minetto does not have a campaign website and has not responded to interview requests with BBME.

 

Voting Record:

• Trustee Minetto did not say the reason or put a name to what is causing all the chaos in our schools but our research evidences it is the push of equity driven ideologies like; social justice, cultural competency, diversity and inclusion, restorative justice.  Trustee Minetto helped cement some of these anti-racism policies into WCSD by voting yes to adopt Resolution 20-211  “anti-racism” at an October 2020 Board meeting. 

• She also voted for Superintendent Dr. Enfield,  who was approved by 6 of the 7 Trustees, promising to continue down the path of equity and anti-racism  in the name of lessening the learning gap.  

• And when push came to shove regarding smaller class size, Trustee Minetto voted to request variances for the District to circumvent NV statutes that mandate smaller class size for K-3.

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Believes in Smaller Class Sizes:

Having been a teacher for 31 years, Trustee Minetto understands what it is like to be in a classroom.  During the 4-12-2022 Board Meeting, she emotionally spoke about how smaller class sizes need to be at the top of the list.  Relaying how in one year she taught a class of 15 and then a class of 35. She was able to teach the smaller group 4x more because of the smaller class size. Because when you have 15 kids, you know who is doing what. With larger classes you are just keeping them from killing each other. It is crowd control. She remembers stress kept adding on each year because education changed and you couldn’t discipline anyone. You would fill out the paperwork on what the child did wrong and they are back in your classroom in 5 minutes. That doesn’t help the teacher or the child. She is talking about 4 years ago.  Now, she indicates with her hand the level has gone from, hand at desk level to up over her head. She gets why teachers don’t want to do it anymore. Listen to her own words at the 4-12-2022 WCSD Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees (2:46:00).   

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RGJ Interview Published May 3, 2022:

Q1: Given the amount of attention put on school boards across the country, much of it negative, what prompted you to run for this position?

A: “I don't know how else to say it, but I just feel like I need to do it for the kids and the teachers who have been through so much this year, and the last few years.” Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges brought to light relative to remote learning. She added her heart is still at the schools, where she taught for 31 years. She also said she is one of two people on the school board with more than two years experience.

 

Q2: Where do you see room for improvement with the schools’ current curriculum?

A: She said the curriculum is determined by the state and that she doesn't "think there's a lot wrong with the curriculum." However, she mentioned there is always room for improvement and the school district can continue to meet children where they are. "We have amazing people in the school district. The staff is amazing, and the teachers and staff are doing more and more all the time to help the kids," she said.” 

 

Q3: What will you do to help the student who fell behind in school due to COVID-19?

A: “As school board members, we’re not teaching the kids, we’re managing the big picture.” Adding that the school district administration needs to continue building relationships with students.

She also spoke about summer school and tutoring and the importance of the district employing determined staff who “are not going to let these kids go” by building relationships with families.

 

Q4: How can the school board find a solution to the district’s labor shortage? 

A: She spoke about how the school district has a budget that comes from the state, and that they can’t just just simply pay staff more, while noting that there is a labor shortage across the country that's not unique to WCSD. 

“We’re going to keep trying to be attractive, and hopefully we’ll be able to get more money.”

She spoke about the benefits of working for the school district, such as the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), which she said she will benefit from for the rest of her life.

 

Q5: What’s one book everyone would read before they graduate high school?

A: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens because it’s her favorite.

 

Q6: Should any books be banned?

A:  She said that as a society, books should not be banned. “I don’t know if every single book in the whole wide world belongs in school libraries, but the librarians are professionals who choose and make those choices,” she said. 

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