Members and guests of the Fountain Hills Republican Club gathered recently at the Fountain Hills Community Center for a meeting featuring two keynote speakers addressing education policy and personal security.

The event, held in the Community Center ballroom, is expected to be the club’s final meeting at that location due to rising facility costs, according to club spokesperson Chris Brant. Future meetings will be held at Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills, 15555 E. Bainbridge Ave. beginning Saturday, Jan. 17.

Matt Beienburg of the Goldwater Institute opened the program with an overview of education trends in Arizona and nationwide.

Beienburg highlighted rising per-pupil spending, declining student proficiency in math and reading, and concerns over administrative costs in some school districts, according to Brant.

He also discussed Arizona’s leadership in school choice initiatives, including charter schools and Education Savings Accounts and emphasized the importance of civics education and competing historical narratives taught in schools.

The second keynote speaker, former FBI Special Agent John Iannarelli, focused on cybercrime and personal safety.

Using humor and real-world examples, Iannarelli explained how personal data is collected and exploited, warned attendees about phone and email scams and outlined the growing financial impact of cyber theft.

Brant said Iannarelli encouraged vigilance and recommended credit monitoring as a preventative measure.

The meeting also included a potluck breakfast, with members sharing homemade dishes.

For more information about the Fountain Hills Republican Club, visit Facebook.com/FountainHillsRepublicanClub or FountainHillsRepublicanClub.com.