Over the last few months, Governor Katie Hobbs and AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes have started to realize and actualize the power that they can wield together (you can read up on our coverage on Hobbs here and Mayes here). Most of this exploration has revolved around battles related to legislation, both real and potential, but rarely have they had … Read More
Major Wins for Local Schools as Scottsdale Unified and Paradise Valley School District Bond Overrides Pass
Last week’s elections were a relatively sleepy one; after all, with no real big name seats up for grabs, it was easy to not see any local results at all. But there were a few very important developments that will impact parents all across the Valley, including in Scottsdale. Specifically, bond overrides. Bond overrides are a mechanism to increase funding … Read More
Superintendent Menzel Named Superintendent of the Year from a Partisan Source, Reinforcing Battle Lines
Scottsdale Unified Superintendent Scott Menzel has had a relatively turbulent time leading the helm at SUSD. District meetings have had disruptions regarding COVID-related mitigation and content, and he has been the target of activists (you can read more about it all here). When you have plenty of enemies, it’s always good to have friends that have your back, and a … Read More
Potential Scandal at the Arizona School Board Association: President Forced Out for Making a Stand
The Arizona School Board Association is an organization that largely falls under the radar of your average local current affairs aficionado. Typically you never hear about them unless something has gone very wrong. In that vein, a new scandal is brewing and is threatening to have many more people talk about them, what they do and why. The most recent … Read More
SUSD Drama Continues: When Adults Start Resembling the Students They Govern
The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board has been quite the magnet for plenty of…interesting activity over the last couple years. From protests to calls for a new superintendent from partisan challenges, there has been no shortage of drama. And that drama recently took a new turn that is something closer to a scene from a high school movie than … Read More
Mismanagement Alleged at PV School District: Is the Problem Coming to Your School District?
The pandemic uprooted many institutions, and while the various levels of government stepped up in an unprecedented way some entities got a little too comfortable with that financial support. The Paradise Valley Unified School District governing board showed their hand recently; that seemed to be precisely what happened with them this year, and they are now facing the consequences. In … Read More
Amidst Continued Turmoil at SUSD, Scott Menzel Received a Much-Deserved Extension – We Are Fortunate
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