Douglas County School Board Trustee Tony Magnotta submits resignation, calls out new board members

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Douglas County School Board Trustee Tony Magnotta has submitted his resignation, effective immediately. Magnotta has been one of the three longer-term trustees who have butted heads with the three new trustees who have been the center of controversy since being elected in November 2022.

Magnotta said he has spent the last year not being listened to and being subjected to "harassment and veiled threats."

Douglas County School District,

It is with a heavy heart that I submit my letter of resignation as a Douglas County School Board Trustee, effective immediately.

Since January 2023 and the installation of the new School Board Trustees, I feel my voice, my vote, and my opinion have not been seriously considered when discussing matters regarding our district. In fact, opinions and comments from our residents, teachers, faculty and most importantly, our parents have not been respected on any major decisions made in the past 10 months.

I, along with a minority of other Board Trustees, have struggled to curtail and delay some of the major decisions/votes passed without thoughtful discussion. I have been met with harassment and veiled threats to ‘get on our side’ to project a united Board of Trustees to the public.

I feel that we have 'wasted' valuable time and resources this past year on agenda items that will adversely impact our district in the near future (i.e. changes to our legal counsel, loss of 2 key administrators).

We were elected to positively affect change regarding our students, teachers and faculty. Our district is facing challenges in hiring quality teachers and support staff. We are facing a severe budget shortfall in the next 2 years, which, again, will affect our hiring process. Our focus needs to be on our students and their needs, not on a personal agenda.

I ran for the School Board in 2020 to serve my community. As a 'transplant' from Minnesota and retired Business Owner, I wanted to make a difference in my new home. I saw, with my own sons, how a great education can positively impact a young person's life and their future potential as an adult. I want to ensure that opportunity exists for the students of Douglas County.

I would like to thank Douglas County voters for giving me the opportunity to serve them these past 36 months. I regret the need to step down before my term is completed, but I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve on this Board while opposing many of the agendas.

Sincerely,
Anthony Magnotta

During the Board's December 12 4 p.m. meeting, the agenda includes the presentation of Magnotta's resignation. The board will "accept his resignation effective immediately." They will then begin the process of appointing a new Trustee at the next Regular Board Meeting.