Karla Baise is a 26-year Fort Collins resident, parent of two Poudre School District (PSD) students, and a community outreach professional at Odell Brewing Company. She is running for the PSD Board in District C. Baise has collaborated with many local nonprofits and civic partners and has volunteered with community efforts such as Fort Collins Comic Con.

Host Nick Armstrong speaks with Karla Baise about why she’s running and what she would prioritize if elected to the PSD Board. Baise emphasizes improving literacy, reducing disparities among schools, supporting educators and classified staff with dignified wages, and strengthening transparency and communication with families. She argues PSD should upgrade existing facilities (e.g., HVAC, modulars) before building new ones and wants robust collaboration with community partners to bolster student belonging and mental health.

Armstrong notes PSD’s 2025 monitoring report shows an average student performance around the 63rd percentile statewide; Baise focuses on addressing underperforming cohorts and systemwide disparities. She supports public comment at board meetings and rotating listening sessions across the district. The conversation also touches on student walkouts over school safety this month across Colorado; Baise calls for more listening to students and greater mental-health resources, while acknowledging she does not have a single “fix.”

• Baise (District C) prioritizes literacy, citing concern about post-pandemic declines and support for early dyslexia screening.
• She argues PSD should reduce disparities by strengthening neighborhood schools so families are less likely to “choice out.”
• Funding and wages: supports dignified pay for teachers and classified staff; views investment in people as essential to retention.
• Facilities first: favors upgrading existing buildings (e.g., air conditioning) before constructing new schools.
• Governance and process: supports public comment, districtwide listening sessions, and clearer explanations for decisions (e.g., calendar/heat-day changes).
• Partnerships: calls for deeper collaboration with local organizations (mental health, inclusion, mentoring) to build belonging and student supports.
• School safety and student well-being: supports expanded mental-health services and cross-agency collaboration; wants to center student voices.

• Candidate site: https://karlaforpsd.com
• Show Notes: https://dearfortcollins.com/2025/10/a-closer-look-at-poudre-school-board-candidate-karla-baise-in-district-c/
• Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
• Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins

Sabrina Herrick is a candidate for the Poudre School District (PSD) Board, running to represent District C. She cites a personal experience involving her autistic child and a former PSD bus paraprofessional as the catalyst for her candidacy. Herrick draws on management experience and says she aims to be responsive to diverse student needs across the district.

Host Nick Armstrong interviews Herrick about why she’s running, what she views as systemic issues in PSD, and how she would approach board governance. She discusses student safety (including student walkouts and concerns following the Evergreen High School shooting), mental health supports, communication with families, class sizes and staffing, and intergovernmental collaboration related to school consolidation and growth in areas such as Timnath and Wellington. She argues that some recurring incidents—especially those affecting disabled students—should be treated as systemic rather than case-by-case problems. Sensitive topics are addressed briefly and factually, including the abuse case Herrick references and broader public concerns about school shootings.

• Herrick says her candidacy is driven by a personal experience and argues PSD should address certain recurring problems as systemic, not isolated.
• She proposes shifting from “toxic positivity” to a culture of continuous improvement: acknowledge problems, track fixes, and celebrate successes without minimizing concerns.
• On inclusion, she advocates listening first to students and families across demographics (LGBTQ+, multilingual learners, students with disabilities) and setting a district-wide culture of respect.
• She supports accessible mental health resources and a feedback loop from counselors to district leadership to inform decisions.
• On safety, she favors more transparent, public discussion of general preparedness (e.g., updating lockdown plans, bringing in experts) without disclosing operational details.
• On budget and staffing, she prioritizes what is “best for kids” or “least harmful” when resources are constrained; competitive pay/benefits and training opportunities are emphasized.
• For consolidations and growth, she favors intergovernmental collaboration (city councils, zoning) to align population patterns with existing facilities before building new schools.

• Sabrina Herrick campaign site: https://smh4psd.org
• Show notes: https://dearfortcollins.com/2025/10/a-closer-look-at-poudre-school-board-candidate-sabrina-herrick-in-district-c/
• Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
• Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins

Andrew Spain is a candidate for the Poudre School District (PSD) Board of Education in District E. He has 30 years’ experience as a licensed paramedic and works in international healthcare education. He has taught adult and continuing education as well as global issues in the University of Northern Colorado’s political science department. He is a PSD parent.

Host Nick Armstrong interviews Andrew Spain about his motivations for serving on the PSD Board and how his healthcare and education background inform his approach. Spain emphasizes listening first, elevating student and community input, and using data to guide decisions. Topics include mental health supports, navigating misinformation and AI, inclusive and respectful school culture (including LGBTQIA students, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities), school safety planning, career and technical education (CTE), class size considerations, staffing and burnout, community engagement practices (e.g., listening sessions and coffees), and resource prioritization during tight budgets.

Spain notes recent student walkouts across Colorado over school safety and describes the role of school resource officers and community partners within a broader safety plan. He references appointed service to complete a board term and asks voters to hold him accountable if elected without opposition.

• He argues the Board should prioritize two-way communication with students, families, and staff, and aggregate input into practical decisions.
• He proposes a data-driven approach to class size, resource allocation, and program evaluation, tailored to PSD rather than copying other districts.
• He supports expanding CTE pathways where there is community interest, while maintaining programs that already work.
• He states school culture must be respectful and welcoming for all students; anti-bullying efforts should be applied broadly and consistently.
• He sees district roles in monitoring student well-being (mental, physical, nutritional) and acting on trends to support learning.
• He describes school safety as a multi-part plan involving law enforcement, SROs where appropriate, and culture work to reduce bullying.
• He commits to ongoing public engagement (listening sessions, coffees) and to accountability for stated goals.

• Candidate site: https://andrewspainforpsd.com
• Show notes: https://dearfortcollins.com/2025/10/a-closer-look-at-poudre-school-board-candidate-andrew-spain-in-district-e/
• Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins
• Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
• Referenced by guest: Team of Rivals (book)