I am a junior at Fountain Hills High School and the daughter of Karl Gaardsmoe, a member of the FHUSD Governing Board.

I’m writing in response to Mr. Dudash’s contemptible and gratuitous diatribe aimed at my dad (yes, I have access to a thesaurus, too, Mr. Dudash).

First, he and others fail to understand or accept the real reasons why Ms. Aister was dismissed. Board members were obligated to make a decision based on the facts of an incident and prior conduct determined by a neutral hearing officer after a full evidentiary hearing.

At the time, many people were (and apparently still are) confused by or unwilling to accept the facts underlying her dismissal. At the meeting you refer to, my dad was simply trying to explain the facts upon which his decision was based. I’m not sure why you were so confused by his point.

Perhaps, Mr. Dudash, you simply don’t like the facts. It’s ironic that you and others continue to engage in name-calling and mean-spirited attacks (bullying) against individual board members; the very behavior you claim to condemn. You are the bully.

You suggest that my dad has no qualifications? You clearly don’t know my dad. How about these qualifications: integrity, courage and ethics. How about the fact that my dad has volunteered hundreds of hours of his time to community and school-related events such as various school and club sports teams, Athletic Booster Club, Junior Achievement, Superintendent’s Budget and Financial Advisory Teams, the McREL Parent Leadership Committee, Youth Theater, Four Peaks Rotary, to name a few?

My dad has proven by his personal commitment to this community and School District why he is especially qualified to be a member of the Governing Board. Please vote to keep Karl Gaardsmoe!