Guerrero-Goetsch, Newcomer Files for School Board

Julie Guerrero-Goetsch has lived in Fallon for 22 years and has had two children in the Churchill County School District. One just graduated last year and one currently attends the Middle School. Julie has been interested in the school board for a long time and said last week when she filed to run for office to fill one of the four open school board seats, that she is “at a point in my life to give this position what it needs. I’ve been in the background learning, absorbing, and talking to people and it is time.”

She currently is serving as the Administrative Services Manager at Churchill County, where she has worked for the past 20 years. She is no stranger to local government. “I’ve served on many committees and boards over the years was the President of Navy League and the Vice-Chair of the Insurance Advisory Board for the county, and serve as the recording secretary to the Fire Board.”

Julie is running because she is a firm believer that you can complain, or you can be part of the solution. “I can be upset about the direction the board is going, or I can focus on the things we could improve. I’m outspoken and I research and I’m always trying to learn,” she said. “I have been selective of what I’ve spoken about over the years and like to be educated about issues and speak intelligently about matters that are worth fighting for.”

The top issues that Julie sees facing the school district are increasing public transparency, ensuring the board meets the vision, mission, and goals of the community and ensuring the superintendent and administration carry that out, and improving the overall environment or culture of the district. “I talk to people inside the district who feel that they have no voice. We should be concerned about teacher retention and burnout. Our graduation rate is terrible.”

She feels it is the job of the board to speak up for the community. “People don’t feel like they can speak up and many do not have the time, I do believe I can affect change and I want to be able to have those uncomfortable conversations we sometimes have to have in public,” she said. “We are the checks and balances, I can ask tough questions and make tough decisions.

Julie can be reached at [email protected].