Karl Gaardsmoe and Wendy Barnard are absolutely the most outstanding candidates of all the strong candidates vying for FHUSD School Board seats.

As a teacher, a parent, and a taxpayer, I recognize that we need school board members who provide rational, logical, and common sense-based consideration to all aspects of our schools for short term as well as long term decisions.

Karl Gaardsmoe has proven his courage and his integrity as a school board member even under the scrutiny of recent events. In the face of an extremely difficult, emotion fraught deliberation, he upheld his sworn duties as school board member with remarkable fidelity. We need our school district’s decisions to be made with great care based on a well-balanced blend of research, logic, and common sense and Karl has delivered.

For the past eight years, I have attended most school board meetings and members of the board will attest that I have fought both for AND against the board over those years. I now stand with Karl and his re-election.

Wendy Barnard is also an exceptional candidate. A newcomer to elected office, she is well versed, both professionally and personally, in the issues facing the Fountain Hills education system. Wendy is a researcher at ASU, a parent of three school age students, and a tireless volunteer. I met Wendy when we served on an FHUSD Budget Committee together a few years ago. She impressed me tremendously with her intuitive understanding of the financial concerns of our uniquely tiny yet suburban-metro district. Wendy’s fresh insight would be a great asset to our school board.

Wendy Barnard and Karl Gaardsmoe deserve your vote. Each has demonstrated sustained dedication to Fountain Hills and each will bring valuable skills to FHUSD School Board.