It’s great to have options, isn’t it?

The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board might not agree.

At the board’s Feb. 10 meeting, multiple alternatives were presented to them – but on rather unpleasant topics.

One: what to do with schools the board voted to close.

Two: how to save even more money and avoid a budget deficit.

Three: how to change attendance boundaries.

With budget cuts needed in the face of declining enrollment, the SUSD board voted in December to close Pima and Echo Canyon elementary schools.

Three months later, during another marathon, five-hour meeting, the board had options heaped on it.

Few decisions were made, with tempers flaring by the conclusion of the intense meeting.

Echo Canyon repurposing

At the Feb. 10 meeting, options were presented for “Echo Canyon K-8 repurposing.”

Superintendent Scott Menzel told the board “the floor” is not to use maintenance and operations (M&O) funds. 

Initial options include:

  • Polaris Academy to lease a portion of the Echo Canyon campus “for operation of a private K-12 school specializing in the education and care of autistic and neurodivergent students.”

  • Jones Gordon School, which serves students with learning challenges (“80% of our students have a diagnosed Specific Learning Disorder, 74% have been diagnosed with ADHD and 68% are diagnosed with dyslexia”) to relocate to Echo Canyon from nearby Paradise Valley.

  • Arcadia Sports and Performance Complex to provide “on-site tutoring, mentoring and social enrichment,” as well as “multi-sport development, strength and conditioning, and sport-specific training.” According to the company’s pitch: “fields and outdoor courts will be upgraded using donated funds.”

Menzel emphasized he was looking for the board’s guidance, including whether they wanted to “maximize” potential lease revenues.

“There’s zero financial information on any of these options,” board member Mike Sharkey noted.

Matt Pittinsky added, “I am open to the schools listed here. I put a particular premium on the neighborhood and what the neighborhood wants out of the facility.”

“We need to focus on what’s best for kids,” Amy Carney stressed.

Pima repurposing

Only one option was given regarding Pima Elementary School: Transitioning to a Level D program.

As the presentation noted, “A Level D school in Arizona is a specialized educational setting designed for students whose primary needs cannot be safely or effectively met in general education classrooms or less restrictive special education placements.”

This serves students with significant cognitive, behavioral, emotional, medical or developmental disabilities who require intensive support, highly structured programming and small class sizes.

Currently, 38 SUSD students are receiving Level D programming services in private schools – at a cost of $2.7 million.

“By transitioning students from private placements to an in-district Level D program, the district can redirect a significant portion of the Maintenance and Operation dollars and IDEA dollars in

annual tuition expense toward district-operated services.”

While there would be startup costs, “the model is expected to generate long-term cost savings, improve fiscal sustainability, and reinvest funds directly into student programming,” according to the presentation.

Boundaries

At a special Feb. 2 meeting, the board heard a presentation on “potential attendance boundary changes for students currently enrolled or residing in the boundaries for Pima Elementary School.”

At the Feb. 10 meeting at Coronado High School, the SUSD board was to vote on options from a committee:

  • Dividing students currently residing in the Pima Elementary School boundaries between Navajo Elementary School and Yavapai Elementary School. 

  • Dividing students currently residing in the Pima Elementary School boundaries among Hohokam Elementary School, Yavapai Elementary School and Navajo Elementary School.

  • Dividing students currently residing in the Pima Elementary School boundaries between Hohokam Elementary School and Yavapai Elementary School.

Option 1 would expand current boundaries for Mohave Middle School.  

Option 2 would expand current boundaries for Mohave Middle School and Saguaro High School.  

Option 3 would not change feeder patterns in the Coronado complex.

Carney made a motion to table the vote until the next meeting, to allow more time for the board to study the options. The board unanimously approved the motion.

Budget cuts

The board also received three options regarding a frightening budget hole.

According to Shannon Crosier, the district’s chief financial officer, “The estimated Maintenance and Operations budget deficit is $7.7 million.”

She noted a Jan. 20 study session reviewed early budget projections, with cost-saving options developed by the interest-based negotiation (IBN) team. 

After last month’s meeting, the IBN team created two additional options.

The first option: No change from the information presented to the board Jan. 20.

Option 2 has multiple levels:

  • Revises ratio for guidance counselors projected at

  • 425 students to 1 counselor;

  • Security Department to cut $250,000;

  • Reduction of middle school certified librarians;

  • Reduction of teacher instructional leader program by $250,000.

The third option uses cost reductions of option 2, but with a ratio of 400 students to 1 guidance counselor.

Pittinsky reiterated his position he acknowledges is unpopular:

“I believe we should be closing more schools operating a smaller footprint.”

Carney also hammered points she has made before:

“It’s frustrating there’s a refusal to look at over spending in district departments,” Carney said.

“I cannot wrap my head around cutting positions that directly impact students while we continue to spend excess money on marketing and consultants.”

Menzel insisted the district has made significant cuts in administration.

“I want to challenge the mis-spending comment,” Menzel said.

He said Pima, Echo Canyon and other families “are asking for more marketing – not less.”

He also noted the board could “protect the positions but you wouldn’t be able to give raises.”

In a rarely sharp response, Menzel added, “I need to push back on the false narrative … you haven’t been given information.”

Carine Werner jumped in to defend Carney and attack Menzel’s statement. 

“I have to rebut something Scott said,” Werner said, via a remote connection. “There was over $1 million spent on travel … millions of dollars spent on contacts – there was misspending.

“Not until December did we start having a conversation about this.

“You’re wrong, Scott,” she concluded.

Pittinsky countered that.

“We have been given complete and total transparency of data for every single person that works at the district office,” Pittinsky said.

State data, he added, shows “more than half the districts our size spend more on district expenses than we do.”

“I take offense” at the term mis-spending, Pittinsky added.

Ultimately, a motion for Option 3 – except for the guidance counselor change, which made it the same as Option 2 – passed, with Werner opposed and Carney abstaining “because I did not get information I asked for.”