For it being one of the premier school districts in the state and perhaps the country, the Scottsdale Unified School District has had a rough go of it recently, as we have noted. It has become a hot-button and magnet for far-right activists for reasons which make no logical sense, and has even had the Q-Anon Congressional candidate stop by … Read More
A Potential Financial Doomsday for Scottsdale Schools: Why Our Legislature Needs to Act Now
Scottsdale Unified had its share of struggles last year; an incredibly onerous number of struggles. 2021 could easily be considered a Year From Hell for the district. 2022 is arriving with a struggle that is even more imposing than scandal and angry protestors however; it brings the potential of financial crisis. Due to a relatively arcane statute that is over … Read More
AZ Dems are Dying to Give Up High Ground on Education
By Alexander Lomax Education has been a significant hot-button issue here in Arizona for a few election cycles, and for good reason. Our schools have long been underfunded, the student-to-teacher ratio is abysmal, and because this has all happened under a Republican-led legislature, it has long been a talking point that has resonated to the benefit of Democratic candidates for … Read More
New Year and New Opportunities at Valley’s Top School for High Functioning Autistic Students
Enrollment for Upcoming Semester Open Now The new year is already looking bright as Arizona’s Gateway Academy has open enrollment and is eager to welcome new students to the Valley’s top school serving students diagnosed with High Functioning Autism for the upcoming semester beginning Monday, January 3rd. Gateway Academy is an established leader in educating students with High Functioning Autism … Read More
Menzel Proving His Value Again at Performance Pay Meeting: While Progressive Areas Decry Importance of Math, He Prioritizes It
Scottsdale Unified Superintendent Scott Menzel was recently on the hot seat in his recent assessment, where his performance pay came under light fire by board members perhaps trying to look tough in the face of potential recall elections and re-election campaigns. Superintendent Menzel recently showed why he deserves the benefit of nearly any doubt, and how he plans to help … Read More
What was this Teacher Thinking? Scottsdale Teacher get Fired for Teaching a Book on Shaming?
School administrators in Arizona typically have a rough go of it; pay isn’t always great, classrooms are large, numerous candidates and elected officials do their best to make your life tough…it’s not an easy ride. We tend to sympathize with them and want to see their decisions through a positive prism. That’s pretty tough for the case of Principal Linda … Read More
Proposition 208 On the Ropes
Proposition 208, the significant tax increase narrowly approved by voters in 2020, is now on the ropes due to a recent decision by the Arizona Supreme Court. In a 6-1 vote, the court declared that if the funds raised by the new tax exceed the amount to be spent on education in a given year as per constitutional dictate, the … Read More
COVID in Scottsdale: SUSD Implements Mask Mandate
Last week we spoke about a Covid crisis underway at Scottsdale Unified; the district governing board got the message and took quick and decisive action last week and implemented a mask mandate last week. The decisive 4-1 vote sets up another potential showdown with Governor Ducey; last week he announced that he would withhold federal funds from schools that implemented … Read More
Covid Crisis in Scottsdale Unified
In a brutal setback to teachers, students, and parents alike, Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Scott Menzel is sounding alarm bells about the current state of Covid in Scottsdale schools. As of August 4th, there had been 78 confirmed cases on-campus, 150 symptomatic students sent home, and well over 600 that were in quarantine at that moment. The full letter, … Read More