School may be out – but the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board is still cracking the books.

At the end of a long June 9 meeting, board members Donna Lewis, Mike Sharkey, Amy Carney, Carine Werner and Matthew Pittinsky by a split vote approved a $14,850 bonus for SUSD Superintendent Scott Menzel.

The board also heard a presentation “regarding Phase I and Phase II repurposing of schools” from Superintendent Scott Menzel.

That gets attention, as “repurposing of schools” is a euphemism for “closing schools.”

That was followed by “status update regarding Phase III – Coronado Learning Community Strategic Growth Initiatives.”

Lea Mitchell, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, led the update presentation.

In the wake of the “Phase I” closing of Pima and Echo Canyon elementary schools, at Pima, two of 25 teachers did not accept alternate positions. Four of 25 Echo Canyon teachers did not accept new positions.

Mitchell said at Pima “the vast majority of students sorted out and re-enrolled” at other district schools, with around 10 students at Echo Canyon still deciding on options.

Regarding the closely-watched “Phase II,” Mitchell said the district has met with families of potentially impacted schools.

“We heard from over 1,000 parents in response to a survey,” she added, noting a committee is poring over the responses.

She said she will present more information in August.

In November, Menzel revealed six schools on his “proposed implementation of restructuring in 2027-28” list:

  • Anasazi K-5 (407 students);

  • Copper Ridge K-8 (440 students);

  • Laguna K-5 (302 students);

  • Redfield K-5 (376 students);

  • Tonalea Middle 6-8 (364 students);

  • Yavapai K-5 (345 students).

As for the nervously-anticipated “what comes next?” – Mitchell gave a brief overview of “The Coronado Learning Community Design Team is a representative stakeholder group … working to develop strategies that support enrollment growth, student

opportunities, and organizational vitality while reflecting community perspectives.”

She promised “community engagement and support.”

Two board members were sharply critical of the “shrink the footprint” process Menzel has led.

Carney said she has been asking for growth plans for more than a year.

“I have been critical of how we got here. We all knew we needed to do something, but this process has been awful to our community,” Werner added.

Budget passes

The board also approved SUSD’s 2026-27 $398 million spending budget.

The district’s “total budgeted revenues for fiscal year 2026”: $315 million.

The soon-to-expire SUSD budget is just over $400 million, with the maintenance and operations (“M&O”) portion of the budget at $188.3 million, a 2.5% decrease from the current year’s $193.2 million.

The 2026-27 M&O climbs back up to $192 million, despite school closures.

Crossier noted “85-86% of our budget is salary and benefits.”

The 2026-27 budget includes an average teacher salary of $72,309, a 3% increase.

As for school levies, the board approved reducing the primary SUSD tax rates on homes from the current 2.2384% to 2.1509% and secondary from the current 0.9914% to 0.9771%.

The total thus would fall from 3.2298% to 3.128%.

The final step in the budget process is a public hearing followed by another board vote at 5 p.m. June 23 “for the purpose of adopting the fiscal year 2026-2027 expenditure budget.”

There won’t be much time to waste, as, according to Shannon Crosier, SUSD’s chief financial officer, “Districts are statutorily required to annually prepare a proposed budget no later than July 5.”

The board also approved a revised 2026-27 calendar highlighted by “the elimination of four early release days and the implementation of two full student release days – one each semester – to provide dedicated time for staff professional learning, collaboration, instructional planning, and teacher-directed professional responsibilities.”

Before the unanimous vote, Pittinsky said this reflects the view of the community of “half day followed by an expletive.”

The vote was split on two items the board discussed privately in executive session.

Carney and Werner voted against “direction to the attorney regarding potential lease options at Echo Canyon K-8 School as discussed in executive session.”

The two also opposed a $14,850 “performance-based pay”  Menzel.

Details on the bonus were not provided.