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Scottsdale Schools community reacts to superintendent announcement

Posted 3/1/20

Since the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board announced it would offer Dr. Scott Menzel the superintendent position, community reactions have come from across the spectrum.

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Scottsdale Schools community reacts to superintendent announcement

Posted

Since the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board announced it would offer Dr. Scott Menzel the superintendent position, community reactions have come from across the spectrum.

“Quietly optimistic,” is how the Facebook page Respect Our Scottsdale Students, which resident Mike Norton edits, described Dr. Menzel’s hiring while many within the district have largely sounded positive outlooks. Still, there are some who are hesitant on the new superintendent while others are reserving judgment.

The Governing Board decided to offer Dr. Menzel the position after spending much of Friday, Feb. 21 and the early part of Saturday, Feb. 22 behind closed doors for interviews and deliberations. Five advisory committees also interviewed the three finalists.

The board took a roll call vote in a Feb. 22 special meeting with the five members unanimously approving the offering of a contract after the interviews and deliberations.

“I believe it will bring a positive direction, some fresh ideas and ultimately, really bring some unification to our district,” boardmember Jann-Michael Greenburg said prior to the vote. “That is something I look forward to. I am looking forward to working with him ... in really accomplishing the schools.”

Mr. Greenburg and Governing Board Vice President Patty Beckman will work with Dr. Menzel and SUSD Legal Counsel Michelle Marshall on negotiating a contract.

Dr. Menzel will enter the district as its ninth superintendent since 2000, which includes an acting superintendent between Dr. Birdwell and Dr. Kriekard. Since 1986, SUSD has had two superintendents last five or more years.

The SUSD Governing Board brought in Dr. Denise Birdwell in 2016 but severed ties with her in 2018 after allegations of conflict of interest violations. Dr. John Kriekard returned out of retirement to fill the void.

He originally agreed to stay for a year but when the superintendent search did not yield a desired candidate, the Governing Board voted to extend Dr. Kriekard’s contract another year. His contract will expire on June 30.

Amid the shifting leaders, the Scottsdale community lost faith in the district. A 2018 Hanover Climate Study revealed a large amount of those surveyed did not trust the district leadership in several aspects such as budget responsibility, school-level issues and district vision.

A year later, those numbers jumped between 16-26 percentage points.

Some of those jumps included 18% of those surveyed not approving of the district’s budget responsibility in 2018 to 42% approving in 2019. There were similar jumps in all categories with some reaching above the halfway mark of those surveyed.

Community response

There are many in the community who believe the Governing Board made the correct decision. Rose Smith, a member of one of the five advisory committees, said she was impressed with all finalists who could’ve served the district well.

Ms. Smith has filed a statement of interest in running for one of three Governing Board positions in the coming November election.

“Dr. Menzel’s 18 years of experience as a superintendent certainly contribute to his qualification. Additionally, his knowledge of early childhood programs and brain development of early learners certainly made a favorable impression on me,” Ms. Smith said via email.

“I also feel that his work in student equity is relevant to our district as we serve students with diverse and varied backgrounds and opportunities. Dr. Menzel skillfully engaged in conversations with committee members about their concerns and goals for SUSD.”

Though Dr. Kimberly Guerin, assistant superintendent for education, wasn’t selected, Ms. Smith says she believes Dr. Guerin and Dr. Menzel will make a great team moving forward.

Dr. Stuart Rhoden of Scottsdale also has an optimistic outlook on Dr. Menzel, in particular, of his “commitment to diversity and inclusion” as well as an ability to balance humor and knowledge.

“My only trepidation in reading the local coverage of his hire is that people put too much on his plate too soon, and have too high of expectations too fast,” he said via email.

“Superintendents cannot change districts overnight. I just hope that all the various factions within Scottsdale give him and his team time to make the positive changes I believe he will bring to our district.”

Edmond Richard of Scottsdale says he has seen many superintendents come through the district who “promise to change.” He further took issue with the Governing Board, saying it determines how much change a superintendent can make but this board is prone to “juvenile fights and community backlash.”

“I have yet to see a board coalesce around education, and it is more petty vendettas and misdirection by a series of superintendents,” he said via email.

“All I know is that my children get a poor education since the bickering and inherent inability for this district to put education first. Will this superintendent make a change to that? Ask me again in three years.”

There are some who want to hold their judgment until Dr. Menzel signs a contract, such as Kris Ambri, president of the Scottsdale Education Association, who said SEA is closely monitoring the situation but didn’t want to comment at this time.

The announcement of a new superintendent is still fresh but a mixture of emotions surround the decision. With the change in leadership, Ms. Beckman says Dr. Menzel will come in at a great time.

She said she is optimistic about the future because of the progress the district made under Dr. Kriekard, calling him “the right person to step in and guide us back on the path of excellence.”

“It is now time to take Scottsdale Unified School District to the next level. We have the ability to be innovative academic leaders,” she said via email.

“We are hopeful that Dr. Menzel will collaborate with our educators to bring a fresh approach and exciting ideas that will result in every SUSD student receiving a world class and well rounded educational experience.”