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.
Episode Summary
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.”
Key Takeaways
- 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.
Notable Quotes
“I want to make sure that kids across the entire district have the same access to the amazing resources that my kids have had.”
“Belonging is the opposite of anxiety.”
“We need to be investing in our mental health.”
“I see incredible possibilities in our school district.”
“Public education is the very basis of public good. It’s the foundation of us investing in our future.”
Resources / Links
- Candidate site: https://karlaforpsd.com
- Dear Fort Collins website: https://dearfortcollins.com/
- Dear Fort Collins YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dearfortcollins
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