Guest Editorial: Vote Jacobs, Beasley, Hassler for SUSD Governing Board

By Jan Dubauskas

We are SUSD parents. All five of our children have attended SUSD schools; our two little girls currently attend Copper Ridge Elementary School. Our older children received excellent educations. Unfortunately, the District’s stark decline in academic performance and sharp decline in enrollment is noticeable to all parents – and it’s alarming.

Parents expect the District to provide our children a safe learning environment that challenges and supports our children. Yet, the results over the past years speak to a very different outcome.

Today, about 50% of parents in the District do not choose SUSD for their children. And can you blame them? Only 48% of the 2023 graduating class were proficient in reading, math, and science, despite a 93% graduation rate. And, just 25% of seniors were proficient in science.

We expect the best for all students and the current majority leadership at SUSD is not delivering the best for our children or for our wonderful teachers. In 2022, we successfully elected Carine Werner and Amy Carney who are working to improve SUSD’s performance. They need our help. If we want to change SUSD’s outcome, we need to do something different – and vote for the Governing Board candidates who will deliver the best education for our children.

Over the course of the last year, I have come to personally know Gretchen Jacobs, Jeanne Beasley, and Drew Hassler. They share our frustration with the District and will deliver a stronger SUSD that is focused on academic excellence, fiscal accountability, and a safe environment for Scottsdale’s precious children.

Join me and vote for the Jacobs, Beasley, and Hassler team on or before November 5, 2024.

Learn more at: www.susdstrong.com.

Jan Dubauskas is a Scottsdale City Councilwoman-Elect. You can reach her at jan@janforscottsdale.com.