001Good evening. Thank you for being here tonight. I'd like to call this meeting to order and begin with the pledge of allegiance. Please stand. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> And we'll begin our roll call. >> Mask Patinsky, >> John, >> Amy Carney, >> Mike Shy, >> and Donna Lewis are present. All right. Notice is hereby given pursuant to ARS15 that a public meeting will be held on November 13, 2025 at 6 PM in the governing boardroom located at Coronado High School at 7501 East Virginia Avenue, Scottsdale, Arizona 85257. I'd like to ask uh Dr. Menzel to start us off to give us a little background on where we
002are and why we're gathered. Thank you, President Lewis, Vice President Sharky, members of the governing board, and for all those who are here this evening. Tonight, we're here for a topic of conversation that none of us in the room ever wanted to have. Discussions related to closing or repurposing schools are never easy and are almost always the last resort as school districts wrestle with shifting demographics and budget constraints. So I want to begin by stating clearly and emphatically that the recommendation that I brought forward to the governing board for consideration was not because of any failure on the part of any staff or families in these two schools. The recommendation was driven by both demographic and budget realities that require difficult decisions. On Tuesday next week, the governing board will hear an updated demographic study
003that reaffirms the declining enrollment trend that we've seen since 2010. As noted at the study session on October 28th, Scott Unified School District has declined by more than 6,000 students in the last 15 years. And in that period of time, only Tanalia Elementary is no longer open. We also outlined the 7.9 to9 million structural budget deficit that must be addressed as we head into the next school year. Last fall, uh, we restarted a grower consolidate conversation that was initiated initially by Dr. Creek Guard in 2018 and 2019. Post pandemic, our focus had been on growing enrollment and but by last fall was clear that we needed to tackle the questions of excess capacity within the district and how to optimize our limited resources. District administrators met with leaders from schools with less than 450 students.
004With respect to Echo Canyon and Puma, both were given targets of growing to 350 by the end of the 202425 school year. specific efforts were made to support marketing and grow enrollment. However, after this school year started, uh enrollment uh at both of the schools was below 300. For me, uh when looking at the enrollment trends over the past three years, and if you go back even to 2018, uh it was clear that both of these schools were on a path where it was going to be very difficult to reverse the declining enrollment trend. In April of 2025, when the governing board had a conversation about our enrollment strategies, there was a question asked about what the process would be like if we had to repurpose schools. And I noted at that time that if
005the board was going to consider closing any schools or repurposing them for the 2627 school year, the decision needed to be made by December of 2025 in order to give our families and our staff sufficient time to be able to uh respond to that decision. One of the things that I think is important to note is that for example in the case of Puma 140 of the current 296 students are inboundary. 193 inboundary students from puma choose other SUSD options. So it's it's a challenge of demographics and the choices that parents are making. and we have many schools open, many more than we can justify given the declining enrollment over the last 15 years. The recommendation to repurpose Payment Echo Canyon was formulated after careful review of the data and understanding that this is phase
006one of a proposed two-phase process to rightsize the district to be more in line with the number of schools necessary to serve the current population and what is anticipated in the future. Pursuant to statute tonight, we will hear from anyone who wants to speak to this recommendation, but no decision will be made prior to the regular meeting on December 9th. I want to thank each one of you for showing up this evening. I want to express my gratitude for your willingness to share your opinions. These conversations aren't easy. They're not uh easy for me to recommend. They're not easy for parents and families who are impacted, but your voice matters and you're an important part of the SUSD community. So, I want to thank you for being here tonight. We pledge to work with our
007families uh regardless of what decision the governing board makes because you matter to each one of us. And with that, I'll turn it back to the board president. >> Thank you, Dr. Benzel. We are now at 2F, our public hearing. The board will now hear from members of the public regarding the potential school closure repurposing. Please note that board members cannot discuss or respond this evening. The board will schedule a vote on this matter um on December 9th. Speakers will be limited to two minutes. Speakers must be present to provide comment and cannot yield their time to another individual. As a reminder, comments during the public hearing should address this proposed repurposing of Puma Elementary and Echo Canyon. If there are other comments, we have a regular governing board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th,
008and that's the best time to provide other comments. Uh, at this time, we have a list of of many speakers. Thank you for being here. >> Yes, >> there's there was some Um item B the presentation >> that was what I just did. >> That was your present. Okay. >> So we'll begin. Um what I'll do is I'll call the person who's going to speak first and then the person who needs to be on deck ready to go. And we'll start this evening with Rebecca Birkhart uh with Debbie Schumacher uh on deck. Members of the board, I come to you today as a parent and a PTO member of three girls at Echo Canyon. A parent who's watched our school become family over the years. Echo Canyon is not just a bunch of buildings. Echo
009Canyon is where my own children and other children feel safe, seen, supported, and loved. I understand the need to balance a budget, but we're but sorry, before we close two schools to save around 900,000 to a million dollars each, we have to look deeper. We're spending $2 million on individual programs like the Mandarin Immersion Program that have they ever been fully evaluated for equality amongst all SUSD schools, cost, participation, or long-term benefit? That's twice the amount that we'd save by closing two schools. If we're truly making decisions for students, shouldn't we start by auditing programs that cost millions of dollars before taking away schools that serve hundreds of children every day? Closing a school doesn't just save money on paper. It breaks apart communities, forces longer commutes, and erases trust, trusted relationships between teachers, students,
010and families. Once a school closes, we can't simply rebuild that sense of belonging. I'm asking you to take a fair, datadriven look at every program before making a decision that can't be undone. Let's find solutions that protect our children, schools, and don't eliminate them. Thank you. [applause] Debbie Schumacher followed by Blair Wilkins. My name is Debbie Schumacher. I am Puma alumni along with my daughter and my eldest granddaughter is the third generation at Puma. One of her two younger siblings is set to attend this fall. The Puma community was blindsided to say the least that the board was considering closing Puma. Many thanks to the board members that have met with representatives of Puma over the last few weeks. Our community has presented strong arguments against closing Puma, ranging from the emotional turmoil to students,
011families, and staff, as well as that closing a new $18.1 million school that is rated A+ is not financially sound. >> [clears throat] >> You also are going to be incurring the additional cost of relocating students and losing additional students out of the district. I'm asking that the board please give Puma a two-year extension. We've already proven we can rally. We can come together and with the the district's support with an aggressive marketing campaign, we will grow. Tonight, several community members will present you with different options to consider. We ask that you please consider all of those options before you make a final decision. Closing a school should be the absolute last resort. I don't believe that the board has looked at all of the possibilities of what we can do. Puma has changed over
012the years, including our mascot. This generation Jones Puma Warrior is very proud of the Millennial Puma Panther parents that have rallied together and come out to support our community. I'm also very proud of our generation Alpha Puma students who cite the following daily motivational pledge of strength and unity. I am proud. I am inspired. I am motivated. I will achieve. I am humano. [applause] >> Blair Wilkins followed by Cat Engelo. >> Hello. Uh I am here to ask you to address the remaining conversations about the future of Echo Canyon with the highest level of integrity and remember that there are families and children that are immediately impacted on the decisions that we make and the actions that we take. I'm a parent of two Echo students and I've served on the site council for a
013number of years there. I want to share and reflect with you the experience that this has had on me, my family and my children. And I go back to September 29th as the day that the first domino felt like it was pushed. Scott Menzel came to Echo Cananan, stood in our cafe, and I learned three things. One, he was making a recommendation to close our award-winning school of choice. Two, he told us to be ready to enroll at a different school and open enrollment on November 3rd, Tavan was close and had room. Three, when asked to expand on the rumored conversations about a partnership between Hopi, a school 2 miles away from Echo Canyon with a wait list, he wasn't going to explore any further because he couldn't promise the Hopi families that Echo Canyon
014could meet their culture and offer a western days. Yet, when we asked if Tivon could welcome Echo Canyon and meet our culture and include our community, he was confident that they could. I do have to wonder if it's because those are two title one schools. A recommendation is not a decision. Yet, how could the educators and families that left that night make decisions for our futures based on our own experiences at Echo Canyon and with our hearts? After scheduling the study session, ultimately this public hearing, things happened fast. The dominoes were falling. We need to slow this process. We need to remember we are setting a precedence with what we do and how we do it. We need to respond to the challenges that we face with integrity and remember that ultimately neighborhood schools don't
015recover once they're closed and neither do the communities that they're in. Thank you. [applause] >> Cat Engelo followed by Morgan Kaine. Good evening. I'm Cat Ingalo. I stand before you tonight to address the critical proposal to close Puma Elementary, a decision that I believe is both very short-sighted and fiscally very unwise. Puma Elementary is not a struggling school by any means. It is a district asset that must be protected and grown. It is the only A-rated elementary school in the Coronado learning community. Furthermore, it operates a state-of-the-art facility constructed in 2019 using our lovely 18.1 million taxpayer funds. Closing this brand new, high-erforming building is a betrayal of the community's investment and trust. FEMA is essential because of its specialized programs. We are the only elementary school in SUSD with the K2 ABC program and
016one of only two with the critical success program. We are a destination for families seeking specialized learning, not a facility to be shuttered. I must address the lack of effort. Puma was explicitly discouraged from marketing itself at the SUSD Expo. What happened? We need to reverse this negligence. Um, I'm not asking for a reprieve. I'm asking for a strategic plan. I request that Puma be granted the same opportunity given to other schools, the two to three-year dedicated growth program to market our strengths and equitable reboundary to stabilize our environment. Um, governing board members, you were elected to protect um the education of our children and I implore you to honor that promise by voting against the closure of Puma Elementary School and to vote for a path of strategic growth. Thank you. Thank you, Cat.
017>> [applause] >> Morgan Kaine, followed by Jake Davis. Good evening. I am a Scottsdale homeowner and an SUSD parent and employee. Echo Canyon shaped my family from my son's love for culinary and gardening to my daughter's self-confidence and leadership skills. It's also where I learned that I wanted to change careers and become a teacher. We live in the Puma boundary, so part of the problem, but chose Echo Canyon in 2016. than ALC because of its tight-knit community multi-age model which evolved into looping and its rich garden program. What will happen to our gardens and the partnership with Blue Watermelon project as Chef in the Garden Hub? Will the expansive sustainability and circular food economy programs be able to continue to be utilized? I was inspired to bring Chef in the garden experience to my prek
018class at Yavapai and want this to stay a big part of SUSD. Perhaps there's opportunity for the hub at Echo Canyon to remain. may be offering field trips to the Echo campus. May I remind you of the prestige this has brought to our district thanks to visits from people like Alice Waters and from SUSD's first designation as a blue zones approved school, which I know you love. While more campuses are adding gardens, it will take years for them to be replicated to this caliber. Now, we understand that Desmond will need to make a different choice than planned. He hoped to stay at Ekko for middle school, even though his sister attends Engleside. [snorts] We are lucky to have a choice in Scottsdale, but do believe the volume of choice in SUSD will have to change.
019To think that we can navigate forward without being directly impacted is unrealistic. The entire district and community will feel the impact of the decisions you make. I am [snorts] not asking you to keep our schools open as they stand today. Which likely will make a good amount of my peers squirm in their seats, but we have to face the music. None of us want to be it to be us, and it's time to move SUSD forward in a fiscally responsible way. In doing so, I charge you to think logically, conservatively, and without bias. Please consider all scenarios before making changes. Make those that use common sense, have longevity, and make the district stronger. Ultimately, let's not have these conversations anytime soon. >> Thank you, [applause] Jake Davis. Followed by Kathy Brie Tomkins. [clears throat] >>
020My name is Jake Davis. I've attended Coochis, Cocoapa, Mojave, and Sawarro. My kids are third generation SUSD. Your entire campaign was built on promises to protect SUSD, keep our schools open, and to stand by this community. Miss Donna, you promised that we would have a closure budget committee in place. Can we expect that committee within 26 days like you promised to protect SUSD? Mr. Shy, you're quoted saying, "Our neighborhood schools are the backbone of our community. If that's how you feel, are you going to protect SUSD? Mr. Patinsky, you said we have a vested interest in protecting and improving our neighborhood schools. Will you protect SUSD? Scott Menzel has put us all in an impossible position. His his inability to problem solve is embarrassing. His lack of transparency and creativity makes it impossible for you
021to fulfill your pro your promises you made to this community. You're nothing more than collateral damage to him. Just a group of volunteers that get in the way of his objectives, just like us parents. We still haven't received any information from you, Scott. Not one piece of data that justifies closing these schools. You looked me in the eye last week and said you had it, and I guess we'll wait next week for it. You failed to comply with state statute ARS 15-341, which requires transparent reporting. I will be contacting the auditor general. This community deserves facts, not silence. This would have been productive segment in your latest podcast if you knew the definition of transparency. The truth is you don't value families of SUSD. You mock us. You've targeted us. This time you have failed
022to intimidate us. You've costed SUSD over $200,000 in lost settlements, violated open meeting laws. You are the bad press of Scottsdale schools. You are the reason families are leaving Scottsdale schools. You're a bigger failure than Birdwell. That's your best accomplishment to date. Your forever legacy failure. Thank you. >> Thank you, [applause] >> Kathy Brie Thompkins, followed by Lisa Dinglinger. Good evening everyone. I'm Kathy Brie Tomkins and I'm a Scottsdale native and alumni of Puma and the Coronado Learning Community, a Puma parent three times over and I'm also an employee of our beautiful city. Puma is the only A-rated elementary school in the Coronado Learning Community. And if you choose to close Puma, you're essentially signing Coronado's execution papers. I would like to thank the board members that have responded to our emails, have taken the
023time to meet with us, parents and community members, or plan to take the time. Um, I appreciate everything that you're doing and that you are taking your positions as elected stewards of this community to heart. We are going to hear many great things about Puma. I would like to focus specifically on the 5-year 21st century grant that Puma was recently awarded. This half a million dollar grant um would be lost if Puma's closed. It [snorts] provides free summer camp uh family math and literacy nights and it also provides before and after school programming again for free. Um, it's a tremendous help for working parents and it gives families the opportunity to drop kids off as early as 7:30 a.m. and pick them up as late as 4:15 p.m. Not only that, but these programs provide
024our students with many uh various learning opportunities. Um, there's a bunch of art such as drawing, clay, sewing, jewelry making, watercolor, crochet, and origami. technology classes such as computer lab, coding, and graphic design, which recently won an award from the district for designing a cover for the Arizona Department of Education. Academic support classes, reading, homework help, AASA test prep, and math. Um, and various fun activities that show kids how to be healthy and um just be good community members. Programs such as these are what make being [music] a single mom working. >> Thank you. Thank you. [applause] Lisa Danglinger, followed by Adrienne Bess. Hello. I know you've heard how Puma Elementary isn't just a school. It's a 66 year old cornerstone in the community. Please consider carefully. Closing or repurposing Puma isn't just a logistical
025decision. It risks eroding trust and stability in a time when we need vision and bold leadership. While Scottsdale's overall population is growing, our district's enrollment has dropped. And Dr. Menzel, you had mentioned 6,000 students. Meanwhile, near nearby charter schools have added well over 5,000 schools since 2010. These alternative networks continue to expand and families are leaving. They want choice, rigor, and innovation. and they are finding it elsewhere, not in SUSD. Repurposing schools is a short-term fix. And as enrollment declines, the district still owes the same debt, but with fewer students generating state funding. That makes the budget worse. Competing with charter, online learning, and homeschooling requires a more strategic long-term strategy. The district's strategic enrollment planning study shows parents are choosing alternatives for stronger academics, discipline, policy enforcement, and specialized programs. that can change by
026restructuring, not shrinking. Puma restructured as a small school model backfilled with early education, community classes or a hub renovation. Those are some strategies. These align with what we're trying to accomplish the district's um closing schools sends the wrong message and creates distrust in the district. The governing board was elected to protect the education of our students and not close schools. Let's leverage our resources to create programs families will actively seek for better financial support. Personalized learning, advanced coursework, and strong extracurriculars are some examples. And simply reallocating students to other schools isn't enough. Our schools must maintain quality and capacity. Let's make Scottsdale Unified the first choice, not the fall back. It's our moment to lead with creativity, not in contraction. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Lisa. Adrien Bass followed by Sabrina Messinger Aivado. Good
027evening uh school board. My name is Adrienne Bass. I am alum and I chose to work for the SUSD. Puma is working. We are an A-rated title one minority majority success campus. We are working keep Puma open to continue serving our South Scottsdale community. Mr. Shy, Dr. Lewis, and Dr. Padinsky, you ran your campaign on the promise of keeping schools open, giving transparency to budget cuts, and not playing politics. Now is the time to keep those campaign promises. There are several ways to reduce the budget while keeping Puma open. We could create a small school environment and staff accordingly. We could encourage retirement or buyout incentives for teachers that are at or near 80 points. We could downsize district administration to reflect our population. We could have a budget committee generate ideas to keep budgets
028um budget cuts away from the classrooms. We could sell outdated or redundant technology. And lastly, we could interview students and families who returned to us from the charter schools and celebrate all the reasons that they come back to the SUSD. We cannot grow our numbers if we close schools. Puma is working. We are an A-rated um school with a minority majority student body. We are title one and we host the success program. We are doing everything right. Give us a growth plan to continue serving the community and welcome more neighborhood kids into this outstanding outstanding campus. Please keep your promise, keep puma open. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you Adrian. Sabrina Messenger Esto followed by Orion Aso. Hi, my name is Sabrina Messenger Cevidito and I'm a Puma parent and Puma alumni. Puma is more
029than a school. It's an A-rated diverse learning community offering specialized programs that meet the needs of every student. This combination of educational support does not exist anywhere else within the Scottsdale Unified School District. We're more than just enrollment numbers. Puma is the only elementary school in the in Scottsdale with a K2 ABC program, providing academic, behavioral, and communication support for our youngest learners. These early interventions set the foundation for long-term success. We are also one of only two schools with it with the success program. Students utilizing comprehensive coping education strategies, which helps children manage emotions, regulate behavior, and succeed socially and academically. Closing Puma could create hardships for families who rely on these programs. Many would face long commutes or be forced to leave the district to secure the education that their children need and
030deserve. Our teachers deliver targeted interventions in math and reading while our gifted program offers rigorous individualized learning. Puma proves that excellence and equity can thrive together and no student is left behind. The district invested $18.1 million from taxpayers to rebuild Puma. Closing it now would not only remove accessible, highquality education from our community, but also waste a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve students for decades. When board members Sharky Lewis and Patinsky campaigned, each promised transparency, community involvement, and commitment to keep schools open. Yet, with less than a month before the final vote, our community has had little meaningful dialogue. Closing schools should not be a starting point, but a last resort. Afford Puma a two-year growth plan. Keep your promises and advocate for our schools. Thank you, [applause] Brian Eso. Followed by Allison Dolan, Troop
031457. >> Hello, my name is Ryan Avido. I'm a father of a Puma student. Uh when Shy Lewis and Padinsky campaigned for this board, each promised not to close or defund our schools. Yet here we are blindsided by proposal with little transparency or data. Repurposing Puma makes little financial or strategic sense. This elementary this elementary school has been around since the late 50s and at the same time it's a modern campus representing an $18.1 million investment of our tax of our tax dollars just a few years back. Instead of dismantling a thriving, diverse A-rated school, I urge you to look internally to address budget challenges. Puma has the infrastructure and capacity to support long-term growth, unlike many older schools in the district. It's hard to justify shutting down one of the one of our newest
032schools while continuing to fund aging buildings. You owe it to our community to allow our children to benefit from this state-of-the-art facility. Closing Puma would waste this investment and further erode the community's trust. Closing schools, especially without a budget committee meeting, is a short-sighted and irrespons and irresponsible. It will drive more families towards private schools, again, worsening both the enrollment and funding of the SUSD. Closing schools would be closing [clears throat] schools should be a last resort, not a starting point. Please provide Puma with a two-year growth plan and the resources because Puma is of a because Puma is not a failure, it's a success story. Uh keep your promises, do not close Puma and protect our schools. Thank you. >> Thank you, [applause] Allison Dolan, followed by Jessica Squirtle >> with Troop 457. >>
033Yes. Hi, my name is Ansley Mcnite. >> Can we put the microphone? Let's put the microphone next to your mouth. There. There you go. >> Hi, my name is Anley Mcnite. We are Girl Scout troop from 457 from Puma Elementary School. I've been at Puma since I was a little girl and now I'm a young lady. I Puma did nothing to you, so you should do nothing to Puma. Puma has great teachers and great academics. He There are many other amazing things at Puma Elementary School. Here are are some of our favorite. Hi, I'm Kylie Ramirez. I think we should not close Puma because all the teachers and staff are so nice and they don't just help you learn, but they help you grow as a person. And what did Puma ever do to you?
034Save Puma. Hi, my name is Madison and I love the PTO event. I like all the teachers and Miss Marks is my favorite and my mom um used to go to Miss Marks for a second grade teacher. >> We also have a great community with excellent teachers and kind and respectful students. are we we are puma. Puma stands for I am proud. I am inspired. I am motivated. I will achieve. I am Puma. Say Puma. [applause and cheering] >> Thank you. To give you um friendship bracelets as well. They say friends forever. >> All right. We Thank you. We have Jessica Scordo followed by Kim Mccclure. >> Good evening members of the governing board and Dr. Mensel. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak and thank you for your time, thoughtful questions, creative
035thinking, and careful consideration during this process. My daughter is a fourth grader at Echo Canyon. Our family has been part of the Echo community, Echo Canyon community since my oldest enrolled in preschool. For eight years, Ekko has been our home. While the thought of my daughter not finishing her elementary years at Echko is sad, I've been very much aware of the declining enrollment problem Echo Canyon has been facing and understand change is inevitable. While some may want to share their frustrations, anger, and place blame, I am finding myself in a place of eagerness to move on and plan for what the upcoming school year will look like for my daughter and her family. I appreciate the district's effort to find this best options, excuse me, best option for repurposing Echo Canyon. However, none of the
036options I've heard will be the right fit for my daughter. Any version of an arts academy couldn't be more opposite of my daughter. We have enjoyed our time at Ekko, but what we have enjoyed most is that it's home. A wise principal recently reminded me while on my search for a new school, I needed to find a fit for my daughter that feels like home. I can't pick her future based on a building. So, while we love Ekko, what makes it home is the people who show up and make it special every day. My ask of you is that you follow through with the promise you made to our families. that the transition to our new schools be seamless and every student finds their new home. Be clear in your communication through the entire process.
037Ensure all families are aware of the timelines, choices, and opportunities they have to make the best possible decision for their children. Equally important is the matter of our staff, the dedicated educators, support staff, administrators who care for our children every day. I ask you pl to please ensure that these individuals are placed in a school where they wish to work, where they can continue to flourish and find your joy in serving SUSD students. Lastly, as a parent, Scottsdale homeowner, and an SUSD employee, I ask that you keep the forefront of the financial imple implications of this choice, the budgets, operational efficiencies, and long-term commitments. As I listen to the study session, it was stated many times that the decisions you make now will impact the next decade. Both of my children will experience implications of
038the decision you make for the rest. Thank you. [applause] followed by Amber Draina. >> Hi, I'm the parent of a junior at Arcadia and a recent Arcadia graduate who is currently a freshman in college. The situation that SUSD is in right now is very difficult. And as a parent, I cannot imagine what it would feel like for my children's school to be repurposed. The situation is not happening due to sub-optimal marketing strategies, negative perceptions of curriculum by parents or community members, specific financial decisions over the past few years, or any misuse of funds. It is happening because demographic changes are driving decreases in enrollment. These demographic changes are not unique to SUSD. Not only are other districts in the valley having these same conversations happening here tonight at this public hearing and for the same
039reason, but they are also happening well beyond Arizona's borders. When I was growing up, I went to public school in three different states. All of the districts I attended are dealing with or have recently dealt with declining enrollment and they are thousands of miles from SUSD. Because we because we moved so often, I ended up attending three different elementary schools. And the one where I remember learning how to read has been repurposed in a way that is similar to one of the ideas under consideration for Puma. Declining enrollment is happening all over the country and so is school repurposing. Last year's graduating senior class, the class of 2025, was the largest graduating class for the foreseeable future. This is already impacting higher education. And what this means is that the genesis of the demographic based
040declines in enrollment that we're all dealing with right now began around the time when current SUSD high school students like my junior were being born. There is no stopping or fixing the problem that SUSD is facing right now. There is only adjusting to our new reality while remaining focused on giving our kids a quality education. Thank you, [applause] Amber Draina, followed by Kristen Kuran. Good evening, members of the board. Um, my name is Amber Draana. I'm a Puma parent and I'm here to talk about what we lose if we close down Puma Elementary. Puma is an not an ordinary school. It's a specialized education hub. We have programs K2ABC programs as well as the success programs that my daughter has successfully navigated through. These programs uh give the children the tools to manage emotions, regulate
041behaviors and succeed both academically and socially. Without these programs, I do not feel that she would be successful in her journey. Um and she's also part of the gifted program where um individualized learning ensures that students get excel academically as well as they're being inspired. She is actually reading at an eighth and ninth grade level as well as a math level and she's only in the fourth grade because of these programs. Um, if Puma closes, I just worry about what her future is and as well as the the the students that are in these programs as well. Will they'll be split apart? Are they're going to be starting all over again with new uh with new support systems? um we thrive so well and to start all over again in the fifth grade is just
042I feel like it could be detrimental to not only my daughter but to a lot of other students that have thrived under these conditions. Um so closing Puma just doesn't shut doors, it affects families and it dismantles systems that are built that have um contributed to the success of our students. So um I think Puma represents what a public education should be inclusive, innovative, and deeply rooted with community. And so I ask you for the sake of every kid that's found their home in Puma and their community to vote no for closure and give us a chance to keep doing what we do best and build those meaningful relationships and help our students grow. Thank you. >> Thank you [applause] Christian Garren followed by Dr. Janelle Dansky. >> Good evening governing board members. related to
043making Echo Canyon an early childhood education center. How much will you really save by eliminating the K through8 grade levels? Are those savings worth displacing the student population and potentially losing them and their future siblings to their home district or a charter school? By expanding the early childhood offerings and keeping the current K8 structure, you can keep siblings together and put a renewed focus on rolling those additional preschool students up into ECS kindergarten and beyond. A school that is bustling with students translates to a better maintained and utilized campus instead of falling into disrepair. There is no reason that community ed cannot provide financial support under this model. There are other options I hope you are considering. In Arcadia, SUSD's biggest competitor is Veraritoss, which is full and has a wait list. Have you considered
044a traditional model that would likely attract new students to the district or an accelerated academy that could house Arcadia's CGP gifted students and students who may not test as gifted but are academically advanced? Have you evaluated the most recent survey results that indicate the programming families are most interested in? There is nothing that precludes you from having discussions related to enrollment, educational programming, increased offerings, or generating revenue. It seems odd to me that before having these discussions, administration jumped to a decision to close schools as if that was the only option. You do not need to close a school before you can discuss how to improve it. This process continues to feel extremely rushed. I hope that by December, you have received all the information you need to make a sound decision. Closing schools is
045not something that can be done on a whim, but rather it is a process that needs to be strategically planned and well communicated in order to gain buyin and build trust within your community. It takes more than three months and a one-time parent discussion. The decisions you make will have a lasting impact not just on Puma and ECS, but on all SUSD schools, your students, their families, and your community. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you, Dr. Janelle Dansky, followed by Ellie Mcnite. >> I'm here tonight to urge the board to repurpose Echo Canyon in Puma Elementary Schools. Schools are the heart of neighborhood. They bring communities together and shape our identity. And that's why this recommendation is difficult. We cannot ignore the severe financial crisis our district is facing or the need to cut 8
046to9 million from next year's school budget. We are simply out of time. This is not about effort. These are schools that have had growth plans. My colleagues have worked tirelessly for multiple years to grow enrollment at Echko and Puma and have [snorts] built tremendous programs and learning opportunities for students. This is about demographics, something no amount of dedication can change. It's time for SUSD to rightsize the district in response to Scottsdale's declining school age population driven by rising housing cost and lower birth rates. This is not a reflection of the quality of our schools or the work we do with students. If we keep Echo Canyon and Puma open, the impact on the rest of our district will be significant. Deeper cuts to programs, services, and staffing in all remaining schools. Thank you for considering
047what I know is an incredibly tough decision, but a necessary one for the long-term health of our district. >> Thank you, Dr. Dansky. Uh we now have Ellie Mcnite, followed by Holly Martins. Hi, I'm Ellie Mcnite. I live in SUSD and currently have two children currently enrolled in the district. One is at Puma. I'm asking the um Scottsdale Unified School District leadership and governing board to be innovative in their thinking and budgeting with input from all stakeholders. Making sure we have a closure budget committee prior to closing or repurposing a school. This is a promise that a one board member made to the public. We and US you uh SUSD cannot make excuses to shut down neighborhood schools. ECA vouchers and charter schools have been a major excuse given by various leadership and board members
048for the decline of enrollment. We need to pivot and be innovative, not close neighborhood schools. Neighborhood schools is what Scottell Unified School District was founded on. Most families choose charter schools for personalized innovative education. The smaller class sizes, the ability of instructors to cater to unique learning styles of the students. Families choose charter schools for this enriching activities and family engagement that these schools bring. This is Puma. This is what we are. We actually got a mailer out today from Norah Webster saying, "Puma, we h we have you. We have your back. Skyell Unified School District right now does not have our back." Use Puma as a pilot program for the small school structure. backfill it with early childhood education or administration. Puma is a community school that is A-rated by the state. The leadership
049and the governing board needs to protect our current students, protect our neighborhood schools, and not close schools. This leaders, this was promised by many of you up here, leadership that we could trust. The community of Scottsdale does not want to lose Puma. Puma families do not want to lose their community hub. Please help protect our schools and our students education. Keep Puma open and pilot the small school model. [applause] >> Holly Martins followed by uh Carter Warner. >> Hello, my name is Holly Martins and I'm a proud Puma parent. I'm here to urge you to reconsider closing Puma in its current form. You have already heard so many wonderful things about our school and community that's been around for 66 years. I don't think there's any question about how much this community loves Puma. From
050what I've learned over the last couple months, this proposal seems rushed with no clear plans or alternatives. Closing schools seems like the easy way out. I understand that you can't ignore the bottom line and enrollment is decreasing in the district, but closing schools should be the very last resort. An $18 million investment was made in the school and to close it before exploring every option feels irresponsible. There must be a better way and I believe that you will find a way to keep our schools open. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Carter Warner, then followed by Emily Bonet. >> Good evening. My name is Carter Warner and I'm a student teacher in my final semester at ASU. As a pres-ervice teacher, I had hoped one day to work for the district
051that I was once proud to attend as a student. My time to student teaching at Echko has been incredible, and it hurts me profoundly to see where we are today. Echo Canyon is a school of choice, bringing in 42% of our student population from outside of SUSD boundaries. When Dr. Mensel told us that he would not push a Hobie Echo merger, he said it was because if he lost 10 unhappy Hopi families, it would cost the district thousands. Ekko has already lost more than a dozen families due to turmoil with the district and potential closure. Regardless of what the next steps are for Echo Canyon, the management and communication by the superintendent surrounding the situation has had a lasting impact, not only on myself, but also on other future teachers in my cohort who will
052graduate and are set to enter the classroom next school year in the midst of a teacher shortage. Dr. Dr. Mensel has been unable to provide us with answers, not for a lack of transparency, but due to a lack of vision that has left me uncertain in the future of this district as a whole. He is not playing to win. He is playing not to lose. SUSD families deserve more. They deserve more than someone who leaves solutions unexplored. They deserve a leader who believes and invests in the future of public education. Thank you. Thank you, [applause] Emily Bonet, followed by John Aiden. Hello board. My name is Emily. I am a Scottsdale School District alumni as well as resident and I have my daughter with me who is in our preschool prek program. I just want
053to say the closure of Echo Canyon is devastating. [clears throat] Um you need to take into effect the kids' well-being, the community in being the families, the people around the school. Um, as many have said, Echo Canyon is a family. When we entered Echo Canyon this year with my daughter, I am floored by the amazingness of this school. Kids mental and emotional well-being is going to be greatly impacted if they have to separate their friendships and their trust that they have with their school and their support systems. We have an amazing staff, a looping technique that helps the kids grow mentally as well as curriculum-wise. Um, closing these schools forces these kids to go to other schools, other districts, charter schools, separating friendships, increases travel times, which is a distance and a burden for families.
054Um, you pride yourself on Blue Zone. We're Blue Watermelon. We have gardens, so they're learning not a curriculum, but also a life skills. We have reading with family, which brings families and children together. We have the early start, which is wonderful for parents like me that have to go to work early in the morning and need to be able to drop off their kids in a and not have the financial burden of pre prechool payments. Um, the biggest thing is by closing these schools, you're putting them in these other classes that are already full, which is going to be a problem that these children are going to get lost and they're just going to be one number and they're not going to get the attention they need. We need to advertise for our schools. We
055need to come up with a way to figure out the deficit. Maybe partner with other blue zone organizations like Honor Health or somebody to give us funding. >> Thank you, [applause] >> John Aiden. John Aiden, followed by Bob Jones. >> Hi, my name is John Aiden. I'm a Tavon Ingleside Arcadia alum and a proud Puma parent. The district has yet to present a case on why closing Puma now makes sense when three other schools in South Scottsdale, Yavapai, Tonalia, and Coronado are also struggling with enrollment. The district will want you to believe that splitting up Puma's boundaries between Hok and Yavapai could boost Yavapai's enrollment and by forcing the boundaries of the Puma neighborhood to one of those two schools will subsequently boost Tonalia's middle school enrollment. Please know this will not happen. Most of
056Puma's boundaries have a closer proximity to Mojave and most parents will continue to send their children Mojave for middle school and Sorro for high school. This is not a new trend and will not be reversed by closing Puma and changing its boundaries to schools south of them. We can address Puma's enrollment concerns as well as some of the other South Scottsdale schools by changing boundary 10C section the Pyute neighborhood from Tavon Ingleside Arcadia to Puma Tonalia Coronado. 10C has a high density of students and could boost Puma's enrollment to a safe zone. Tavon currently has a healthy enrollment total and could likely handle the loss of students. Tavon can mitigate the loss of students because they're able to recruit from the all the various Phoenix school districts. The proximity of 10 to be the driving
057factor on why parents in this section will send their children to Tonalia to middle school versus Mojave. I understand this change alone does not fix the budget shortfall the district is facing, but we need to consider ideas like this, [clears throat] excuse me, like this if we want to keep schools in South Scottsdale from closing. Thank you. >> Thank you, [applause] Bob Jones, followed by Gina Aiden. >> Hello. I'm a concerned citizen and I've watched a plethora of very emotional families bearing disappointment on their faces over this very serious situation. I watched this gentleman read a really heavy statement earlier and your elected officials basically civil servants with the responsibility and I've watched a lot of people attack you saying that you're not being truthful with them and not keeping your word. That's character. That's
058character of all of you. And character means a lot. And we as neighbors, it it goes outside the school. There was an underage girl hauled away in an ambulance for alcohol poisoning from a rave party at Mr. Patinsk's house. This is not good character to make calls on who's going to open and close schools. Paradise Valley Police Department had to shut this mess down. And our neighborhood had a mess from it. It was quite the scene. You guys are here because you were elected by the entire community to do what's right. So, please do so. >> Thank [applause] you, Gina Aiden, followed by Rose Smith. Hi, I'm Gina Aiden. My um husband and I moved to South Scotsdale over 20 years ago. Uh proud parents of one Pumagrad and one current Panther. I appreciate the
059attention that the board members have given to this issue. It's difficult. There have been some confusion about whether or not the decision to close ECHKO and Puma are joined on the same vote. If they are not, I think there's an argument to be made for bifurcation. Um, as Ekko and Puma are both beloved schools and deserve to be given the attention of a separate vote. There are a slew of obvious reasons that Puma is worth further consideration. We've heard so many of them tonight. There have been logical solutions presented on how to move forward without closing Puma. I would like to address the potential negative mental health outcomes stemming from school closures. Research shows direct correlation to students academic achievement and overall mental health impacting the way children view the importance of themselves, the shaping
060of their academic identity, and the value that we place on community. As a social worker specializing in mental health and traumatic crisis, I understand the long-term impact that disruption during the formative elementary years has on children. As a parent, I like many of us have seen the impact that discussions and concerns surrounding school closures have had on our children in just the last several weeks. Many of us have been calming fears and finding creative and often diplomatic ways to explain to our kids the concepts like low enrollment, budget shortfalls when what they're seeing is grown-ups contemplating making decisions that will potentially cause upheaval in their lives, in their neighborhood, and in their community. The email we received said that Puma made the list of repurposing due to a shortfall of four. I think we owe
061it to school staff, students, and Puma community to slow this crazy trend down just a little bit so we can analyze this very important decision at the macro level and sure that it makes sense in the long term for all of South Scottsdale. And we've got Panther Pride and this is our rally. Thank you, [applause] Rose Smith, followed by Grace Stro Stambres Stra. Good evening. Once again, I'm asking this board to consider transitioning to an arts magnet rather than close Echo Canyon School. This would um leverage Scottsdale's cultural identity to reverse enrollment decline and elevate achievement. Our fine arts magnet could draw over 150 new students in year one through open enrollment and targeted marketing. With Scottsdale's artri community, Oldtown Galleries, ASU partnerships, and our own award-winning performing arts and bands, this magnet school will
062be a true destination. Located at the heart of three towns, and having the support of those mayors, Echo Canyon is ready to repurpose and reinvent itself and keep its gardens. Families will choose us over charters as SUSD stands on decades of academic excellence and can support their children through their entire K12 experience. Arts integration boosts outcome. Research shows three to 5% gains in math and ELA when core subjects are taught through music, drama, and visual arts. Our magnet school will weave fine arts into every classroom while offering specialized tracks and career pathways for Arizona's creative jobs. Mesa, PV, Phoenix, Tempe, Tusen, and Daart to name a few, all have elementary arts magnet programs. Actually, an arts magnet model is more aligned to the original vision of ANLC, which predates Echo Canyon. Please stop focusing on
063closing schools and instead focus on growing schools. It mean sharpening our pencils and putting on our thinking caps to offer signature program. By establishing an arts academy, we will grow enrollment, ignite achievement, and define excellence. Let's focus on innovative thinking to retain and attract students to the number one district in Arizona. Thank you. Thank you, Rose. [applause] Grace Strombus, followed by Carrie Eves. Good evening. I'm I am a retired administrator at SUSD and an SUSC SUSD legacy board president Donna Lewis. You campaigned on transparency, collaboration, and community input. You promised a budget committee and broad surveys before any cuts. None of this has happened. Yet, you're proposing to close Puma and Echo Canyon first. Closing schools is the wrong starting point. It accelerates enrollment loss as families flee to charters or neighboring districts, worsening our
064financial crisis. Instead, let's strengthen our district and attract families with innovative choice-driven programs. Declining birth rates are a challenge statewide, but Scottsdale families crave choice. Innovative programs draw in new students without displacing children already enrolled at Echko and Puma. For example, we can transform Echko into a fine arts magnet. Similar programs elsewhere boosted enrollment 20 to 50%. Reposition Puma with career aligned themes. Community helpers, safety awareness, basic first aid and career exploration in health services, fire and police, creating a pathway to Tonalia and Coronado's programs. This could easily draw 50 to 150 new students. Adopt lean, flexible staffing models at all schools and district departments using multi-roll educators to cut overhead without losing quality. Closures cost millions in transit transitions and fracture communities. Innovation builds enrollment, revenue, and trust. Honor your commitments. Activate the budget
065committee. Gather broad community input. Vote to keep Puma and Echo Canyon open. Thank you for your leadership and your promise to save our schools. [applause] >> Thank you, Carrie Eves, followed by Matt G. Grass. Carrie, are you here? Carrie Eves. All right. Representative Matt Gres. >> Good evening. Thank you, uh, President Lewis, Vice President Shy, and members of the governing board. My name is Matt Gres, and I have the privilege to represent the fourth legislative district, which includes Scottsdale. Uh, we all understand the broader reality that Arizona has fewer students and districts are being asked to make difficult decisions to align spending with enrollment. I don't minimize that challenge. But after visiting Puma last year and Echo Canyon this morning and hearing directly from staff, students, and families, it's clear that a decision of this
066significance requires a fuller public understanding of the options at the table. School closures permanently sever relationships and reshape neighborhoods. They should never be presented as the only option without the public seeing every other alternative. redesigns, consolidations, leases, and property sales along with the real costs and savings of each. To date, that information has not been made publicly, and uh that is a serious uh failure in the process. In my role as chairman of the education committee, I'll be requesting a full briefing of Superintendent Menzel to understand the underlying data and analysis because from the outside, it appears that the district is just managing decline. Several thoughtful ideas were raised tonight that appear worth exploring. I hope those perspectives will be part of a broader review rather than dismissed too early in the process. Presenting one
067path and calling it inevitable is not fair to families and the community we serve. I'll finally note that the districts have almost no flexibility with regard to capital, which is why I'll advance emergency legislation next January to allow districts to sell property and reinvest those dollars in students. Finally, beginning the closure process before the demographic study has been completed and reviewed uh has been appears premature and I respectfully urge the board to consider the process before closure. Thank you. Thank you, [applause] Martha Graves, followed by Timothy Mur Murphy. Hello, my name is Martha Graves. Um, I have two children. One is a Puma graduate and one is still at Puma. And I myself, um, am a product of the Scottsdale Unified School District. I spoke at this board meeting last month and I'm here today
068with the same questions and not many more answers. It's apparent that the district as a whole has issues that need to be addressed, but closing puma with no plan isn't the answer and it doesn't make sense. Closing puma and echo just puts a band-aid on the problem. more students and families will leave the district because it doesn't correct the underlying problems. Nor does it redirect the district as a whole a direction in which it can succeed. Closing two schools and electing a wait and see approach for the remaining schools doesn't make any sense. the schools listed on the phase 2 portion at least have some advanced notice that they have issues that need to be addressed and it feels like they at least have some more support from the board and the community because they
069were given that courtesy of knowing what might be coming down. We at Puma were not and our children were not. It almost goes without saying after hearing so many other speakers, but the staff and the faculty at Puma are incomparable and their genuine caring and impactful nature shapes our kids in the best way possible. I implore you to examine the district as a whole and to make a thorough and thoughtout decisions. Closing Puma Echo right now simply doesn't make sense. There isn't enough data to support specifically closing Puma, especially considering it is an A-rated school and offers numerous unique services for its students. Take the time for the community, for our children, and for your constituents that we deserve. >> Thank [applause] you, Timothy Murphy. Followed by Emmy Cardella. Good evening, members of the board.
070Uh, my name is Tim Murphy. I've lived in Scottsdale School District my entire life. Um, I feel like my comments might pale in comparison to many of the parents here tonight, uh, fighting to keep their kids' schools open. However, I wish to offer another important perspective to illustrate how closing these schools affects not just teachers and students that attend there, but the community at large. I'm the oldest of six children that g grew up just blocks away from Echo Canyon, then called Kaibab. Along with my siblings, I played little league on the ball fields located at E at Echo Canyon. Over years of playing te-ball, farm, and miners, I saw the community gather at these fields and children learned virtues of competition and sportsmanship. I made lifelong friends and learned some of the most important
071life lessons playing baseball. Now, as a father myself of six small children, I get to watch the next generation learn these same virtues, playing on these very same fields. I don't know if you're aware of this, but the Echo Canyon ball fields are the softball fields serving all the young ladies of the Arcadia Little League. And if the school had to close, the league has warned us that they will cease to offer girls softball altogether. And hundreds of girls, including my three daughters, will find themselves unable to play. Echo Canyon's been a neighborhood center for my entire life, affecting thousands of families and kids over the years in countless ways. Please consider all other options to you before closing or repurposing this school. I know you've heard a lot of uh heard over and over
072tonight that you have better options and I I implore you to figure it out. Thanks for your consideration. >> Thank you. [applause] Emmy Cardella, followed by Doug Anderson. Good evening. My name is Emmy Cardella. I have been a parent for 16 years and I also attended SUSD K through 12. So, I'm acutely aware of the demographic shifts in our district and um I think this conversation is long overdue and I share a lot of the frustration that some board members expressed at the study session that boards of the past haven't dealt with the long-term sustainability of our district. Um, you know, our district sits in Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and then the southern half of Scottsdale. Paradise Valley and Arcadia have been built out for decades. And then Scottsdale, the vast majority of the growth has
073been in the northern part of our city, which is Cave Creek and Paradise Valley School District. So there's simply the demographics do not support. This is what the studies of the past several years have been showing us. The new study will not show anything different. Um, I've also been attending meetings for years and paying very close attention and I've seen each year the deeper and deeper cuts and the creative ways that cut that money has been saved. Um, one example last year half of the teacher raise was paid out of cash reserves which is one-time money which is the definition of unsustainable. So we are at a pos place now when we have no other options and I completely understand the fight of the parents that are fighting for their schools and they deserve uh
074a explanation of why those are the first ones. Um, I know that is tonight's not the night for that and I hope that that comes and I know it will at the next meeting. But the key point there that these are the first ones that there is more to do that this is part of a bigger plan and that Scottdale still really needs um a lot of effort to put in to make sure that we're being sustainable for our future. Thank you. >> Thank you Doug Anderson followed by David Redkey. >> Hello. Good evening. Thank you. Um, I have two boys, one at Puma, second grade, and one at Hokum because the preK program at Puma was shut down. Um, a lot's already been said. Uh, but I'm here to tell you that this could
075have been handled a lot better. Um, it's kind of disappointing to be honest with you. Um, from the start, proactive communication with parents was worthy of a failing grade. Um, from what I've concluded, the only solution ever considered or explored was the closing of schools. It was a starting point. And it does feel like Dr. Mensel is playing to not lose, not to win instead of playing to win. I don't argue the financial hardship. We know it's true. But you have the opportunity to truly explore solutions other than clo uh closing of schools or closures focused. We would have loved to have seen evidence of a think tank to solve this. As somebody with 25 years of creative problem solving, I feel that if you had led with empathy for children and parents, you would
076have found a financial solution. Starting with financial solutions, you lose the children and families. Looking forward, what are you going to do proactively? Seems everything's reactive. Um there are more schools in sight of closure. What are you going to do about that? continue to close schools. I kind of liken it to laying in the snow, getting frostbit, you're freezing, and you're cutting off limbs with every school closure. It's time to get out of the snow. Fix it. It's your jobs. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] And our final speaker tonight is Andrew >> Sheney. >> Did I miss David? >> My apologies. >> Someone before >> I think so. I apologize. David, did was that just you right? Oh, here you are. I'm so sorry. Got confused. All right, David, you're next. Thank you. >>
077Okay. Um, I'm David Redkey. I am a congressional candidate for Arizona's first congressional district, and I'm here today um going door todoor, especially this weekend. I spoke to parents from both both school districts as well as students. I had a little girl come up to me and ask me, "Please don't close down Echo Canyon. Please don't let it happen." And because of that, I'm here today to stand up for her and speak out that closing her schools, closing any school is the worst thing you can do right now. You're talking about uh lowering like enrollment. That's just going to accelerate it. As many people said, there's many ways you can actually take money away from other programs that are not needed and use it and make sure Echo Canyon and Peanut Elementary stay open. You
078don't have to close these schools down. You don't have to rob these students of their friendships, of their choice, of their ability to have a lasting memory of Scottsdale Unified School District. What they're going to see is that this school district doesn't even care about them. Scottsdale Univified School District doesn't want to stand up for them. I if I ever go back and talk to many more students, I'm going to have to tell them that specifically Scottsdale Unified School District does not care about them. They're just a number to them. They're not people. And that's just going to accelerate this this exodus of students. You should make it a place of prosperity where people can grow, come and learn. This is not something that you should be discussing. You shouldn't even think about closing a
079school. You should think about more logical solutions than forcing students to leave the elementary school and the middle schools that they are known for for their whole lives. Thank you. >> Thank you. And again, my apologies. [applause] Uh Andrew Cheney is our final speaker this evening. Thank you all for your public service and for the other p public servants in the room. Uh my name is Andrew Cheney. I've got two points. Um first, so my night and weekend job is um I'm a dad and I've got three kids, two in SUSD right now, one next year. Get ready for them. And um on nights and weekends I'm with my daughter at the softball fields at Echo Canyon and helping raise other strong daughters around in the community. And so it's not only important to our
080the community but also these daughters. And I don't think having uh getting rid of these would get um a would affect those fields. And I don't think any of us need any um weaker daughters around here. Uh my my day job is uh commercial real estate brokerage and I help uh place a lot of companies in Scottsdale. Last week I was out touring a 100,000 square foot headquarters who's looking between our region and other regions on the east coast. Scottsdale does have a uh a good chance to get this this group. Um but having them hear headlines about closing schools um that's not going to reflect well on us. It's making Scott less competitive. Um and so there's certainly a big impact and I encourage you all to look at this holistically uh on the
081business sense as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Uh before we move to adjournment, I just want to give each board member an opportunity to say thank you. And while this is not the time for summary comments or any responses, uh I know each of you would like to share your appreciation. Dr. Patensky. Uh yes, I want to say thank you. I know it's difficult at night uh to come out. We have families um and this has been incredibly helpful. We've talked about potential alternatives and solutions. We've talked about process feedback. Um most of all, we've just talked about how much we love our schools and the impact of making a difficult decision like this to close a school and what it has. So I just want to say thank you everyone for
082the feedback. Um, we don't I don't take this decision lightly. Um, and I promise to continue to listen and learn as we ultimately shape a budget that will serve all of Scottsdale Unified School District families from the south of the district to the north. Thank you. >> Thank you, member member Warner. >> Thank you. I want to thank uh each and every one of you for coming out tonight and speaking and sharing your ideas. And my request is that if you've not already emailed your thoughts and ideas to us, if you would email them to us and that way we can go through them and uh hopefully come up with some really good ideas uh instead of what's being presented to us. Thank you. >> Go ahead. This is member Carney. >> I'd just like
083to thank everyone of you who came out to speak tonight to support those who were speaking. um not only tonight, you took time away from your families, right? And all that you have going in your busy lives and you came last meeting and spoke, you've emailed um I thank those that have requested to meet with me that I've been able to have face-to-face conversations with. Um I take this very seriously and I appreciate your input and will be um focused on on that. There are two requests that I do have. Um one is that I would like to request from Dr. Mensel. >> I don't I don't know if we can do that. I'm looking to the attorney. I want to make sure parliamentarily wise we're on on point. >> Madam President, Miss Madame President,
084Miss Carney, if if you wouldn't mind emailing your requests of followup because we don't have that methodology listed out within the statute for a public hearing and um I I did send an email on this today. You might not have had a chance to read it. So if you don't mind emailing your request to Dr. Mensel, I'll make sure that they are followed up on. >> Thank you. >> That's fine. But I'm just asking for some a compiled list of the public comments with solutions so that the board can look at it. But I will email him my >> and and I apologize, Miss Carne. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Shy. >> Uh, thank you from me as well. Um, for everyone who came out. Um, especially want to thank the parents that I've
085met with. I see many of them here. We've met in evenings and mornings for coffee. Um, you've brought wonderful information and options to me and I appreciate the homework you've done. Um, I've been doing the same. I've been compiling information. I've been compiling data. Um, and so hopefully that comes out as we talk about this. And you know that I take this seriously as I've talked to many of you face to face. So, thank you again for being here and expressing your emotions for you and your family. [applause] >> I too would like to say that the uh marvelous creativity and suggestions for growth and ideas for our students across our 18,000 students is really valuable. I really appreciate hearing them. I app I echo what my colleagues here at the day have said in
086terms of your time. Um we continue to listen and consider. Um so thank you for a wonderful evening. And with that I I make a motion to adjurnn. >> I second the motion. >> All those in favor? I I >> I