Vertetis seeks to bring new point of view to board

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- JoAnn Vertetis is hoping, if elected, to bring "the perspective of a new person" to the District 88 Board of Education.

"As a new person, I might see some things in a different way," says Vertetis, the only candidate challenging incumbents in this year's election. "Years of experience are certainly valuable -- a 'fresh you' is valuable as well."

Vertetis is one of five candidates running for four four-year seats on the school board.

Vertetis moved to New Ulm from Arizona about two years ago, lured by what she saw as attractive school options for her teenage son.

Born in Greenport, N.Y., she has lived in New York, Maryland and Arizona and points to her familiarity with a variety of solutions to problems facing schools.

Vertetis notes that schools are experiencing financial pressures nationwide. In some areas, she says, schools have dealt with budget issues by switching to a four-day week. In other places, parent organizations are raising money to fund extra activities.

"One of the things I'd do if elected is encourage people to be active and think about solutions," she says.

"I don't know what the solutions here would be," she says. "The school board will have to sit down with administrators and parents and decide on what makes sense."

"Some activities may better be done as part of community recreation, for example. It's important to take some action. We have really good teachers and staff. We don't want to send the message, you'd better be looking for work. We should try to keep our good people here."

Vertetis has an AA degree in hotel management technology; she is a certified massage therapist and an oriental body worker.

She is currently a full-time student at Minnesota State University Mankato, working toward a master's degree in counseling as her "ultimate goal". She says she wants to work with children full-time.

Currently, Vertetis is volunteering in several capacities. She is serving on a children's mental health advisory council for Brown County; volunteers for the Girl Scouts; serves on the board of directors for the Council for the Arts in New Ulm; and teaches seventh-grade religious education at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

She is married, with two children.

Vertetis explains her interest in serving on the school board in part with a family tradition. Her dad was a truck driver who went back to school to become a junior-high math and science teacher; she credits him with fostering her interest in education.

Vertetis believes that "the most valuable thing" that schools can teach is "critical thinking." Facts get easily outdated, she says. It is essential that schools teach kids how to "analyze and evaluate information and think outside the box."

Beside teaching academics, schools need to prepare children to get along with other people, she says. Working out compromises is a valuable life skill.

Vertetis feels strongly about balancing academics with a healthy lifestyle.

When outlining issues she particularly cares about -- and would potentially focus on as a board member -- she highlights her concern with the rising number of obese children.

As funding shortages cause schools to eliminate physical activities from their daily schedules, "we can raise children that are smart but not healthy," she says.

Vertetis says she would be an advocate for "incorporating PhyEd (physical education) activities into our children's day" and encouraging "healthy lunch choices."

She also voices her concern about students' packed schedules. Rushing from activity to activity leaves kids "little time to just be children," she says.

"We are offering so much that sometimes they can't appreciate what they have."

Vertetis sees several specific challenges facing school boards. One is maintaining programs with less money; another is providing a variety of choices that would prepare children to follow different career paths; yet another is meeting the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. That law, she says, is unjustified in expecting all children to achieve the same academic proficiency. Rather than setting unrealistic goals, "we should expect children to do whatever it is they are able to do."