Keck: ‘Paul Revere’ now warns against state of Scottsdale Schools
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By Andrea Keck | Guest Commentary
Correction: The Scottsdale Unified School Distirct has had 10 superintendents in 20 years.
My husband jokingly calls me “Paul Revere.” It all started in the spring of 2016 when I was comfortably curled up on my sofa reading about a $65 million event center planned to be built in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
The more I read it began to dawn on me — “OMG, that’s right across the street!”
I thought to myself, “If I don’t know about this, I wonder how many of my neighbors have no idea about it either?” And thus it all began.
I organized a community meeting, and from there became one of the founding members of the leadership team that ultimately collected 37,000 signatures to get Prop 420 on the ballot.
Scottsdale voters, once made aware of what the city was planning, resoundingly rejected the idea of commercial development in the Preserve by an overwhelming margin of 71% to 29%.
On election night I swore I was retiring from politics. But then along came another significant Scottsdale issue demanding another solution!
I read about a citizen effort to recall the majority of the Scottsdale Unified School District’s Governing Board. Thousands of Scottsdale voters, upset with SUSD’s mask policy, their perception of a lack of transparency and respect for parents’ concerns, the inexperience and conduct of a certain board member, potential race-based curriculum, and the political indoctrination of students, signed petitions to recall the majority of existing SUSD Board members.
This prompted me to do some research, and here’s what I learned:
Only 46% of SUSD high school students are “proficient” or better in English, Math, and Science (2018-2019 data, BEFORE Covid).
In our best high school it’s 55%, in our worst high school it’s 19%
Only 43% of students who took the ACT college admissions test met the college readiness benchmarks (Class of 2020)
16% of 8th graders are three or more grades behind (Spring 2020)
Only three SUSD elementary/middle schools are in the top 25 in the state. The average ranking of SUSD elementary schools is 165, middle schools is 142 (Based on 2018-19 academic data pre-COVID).
Enrollment is down 2,200 students from 2015-16. At next year’s rate this amounts to a loss of $31.5 million to SUSD annually in state funding.
SUSD has had 10 superintendents in the last 20 years.
Like me, 82% of Scottsdale’s 115,400 households have no children at home. That’s 94,305 households (though some are not in the SUSD district).
Once again, I asked myself “If I’m not aware of these issues, how many of my friends, neighbors, and other SUSD voters are equally uninformed?”
Thus “Paul Revere” rides again!
It goes without saying that we should all be concerned about the quality of Scottsdale schools. First and foremost because we have a moral obligation to our youth. Education is the key to financial security for individuals and their families, and hopefully a lifetime of happiness and success doing something they’re good at and passionate about.
Every student who graduates from a SUSD high school should have the academic and life skills needed to succeed in their next chapter. And of course good schools attract good employers to our city and boost housing prices, which benefit all of us. And finally, everyone in the district pays taxes to support SUSD schools so we should all expect a good return on our investment.
While there are amazing things to celebrate in SUSD (dedicated teachers/administrators, involved parents, a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular activities), I believe these academic results are unacceptable. We can — and must — do better for our children!
Therefore I am excited to announce that I have decided to run for the SUSD Governing Board. Two of the five seats are up for election in November 2022. I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve because:
I am the only candidate focused on academic achievement as their number one priority. Just remember, “Andrea for Academics.”
I have both significant business experience and significant experience in the education sector (30 years of each)
SUSD is a $480 million business, with 22,000 students, 3000+ employees, and 29 physical facilities.
I have managed $100 million-$300 million businesses for Kraft Foods and The NutraSweet Company
I have nearly 30 years as an educational entrepreneur; provider of academic enrichment programs; creator of community partnerships to support schools; Board member for non-profits supporting under-resourced youth; gifted and special ed experience; homeless students to the most affluent; parent volunteer; and mentor to at-risk youth.
I won’t be working full-time in another job; the Governing Board will be my primary commitment.
Paul Revere was not alone on his mission of warning the residents of Concord. Two other men rode next to him, and by the end of the night as many as 40 men on horseback were spreading the word across the county.
Just as for Prop 420, this effort will require a whole team of dedicated people, willing to sound the alarm. So join the team! Go to VoteAndreaSUSD.com to learn more, sign up to help, and make a donation.
Most importantly, be “Paul Revere” yourself, and help “Spread the word!” The number one job of our school system is to educate — to teach “Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic” so all students (not just 46% of them) graduate at grade level, with the academic and life skills necessary to be successful in their next chapter.
All voters residing within the Scottsdale Unified School District should be fully informed of these statistics, and of those candidates whose priority it is to improve them, when voting for SUSD leadership next Fall.
Editor’s Note: Andrea Keck is a resident of Scottsdale in pursuit of qualifying for the Scottsdale Unified School District governing board election in November 2022.
