It all begins with a strong foundation: A resounding focus on students while retaining and hiring quality teachers, staff, and administration who work together with parents and community.

SUSD 10th grade students’ AZ Merit scores are around a 35% proficient or highly proficient in Math and ELA, with some grades reporting many SUSD students three grade levels below standards. This is happening while The Center for American Progress reported students spend $1.3 billion on college remedial courses annually. SUSD must ensure students graduate with the knowledge and skills to pursue their future goals.

SUSD has identified itself to have a Mission and Vision of “Engaging all students in world-class, future-focused learning” and moving learning beyond the classroom. If this is the vision, we must stop using our 3-5 surrounding districts to compare to our district. If our district isn’t earning top marks locally, how does that mean world-class? SUSD must start to be compared to districts near and far. Evaluating not just student scores, but student and staff outcomes, attitudes towards learning, accomplishments, and innovations. Our school’s course offerings, curriculum, programs, facilities, arts, and athletics must all be world-class.

SUSD’s Applied Economics report predicted a 1.5% decline in enrollment over decades due to a change in population, housing, family size, and increase in school choice options. Covid exacerbated the enrollment loss to 3.5% with significant losses from each Scottsdale high school. Currently, 55% of SUSD zoned students attend SUSD schools. 40th day enrollment numbers also show a decrease of 904 district students from 2016-2020.

The district cannot turn a blind eye to current enrollment numbers and projections. SUSD must thoughtfully consider why families are choosing SUSD, and why half of the district’s students are choosing other educational opportunities.

SUSD Exit Surveys August 2021

Parents help drive our schools’ success. Their involvement is paramount, whether it be helping with homework, volunteering in the classroom or on a committee, or serving on the parent/teacher organizations. They are vital to sharing how their student’s education is progressing.

Listening to parents and other stakeholders enhances the conversation and betters the entire district. Providing opportunities for public comment, town halls, committee involvement, and teacher conversations are of the upmost importance.

To get involved in district committees, visit the SUSD Committee Hub at https://www.susd.org/Committees

Working together with those outside our district makes it stronger. Partnerships like the Scottsdale Charros, Scottsdale Police Department, City of Scottsdale, Enrichment Zone providers, EVIT, Scottsdale Community College, Realtor’s Associations, SUSD Foundation, local non profits, and more all add value to our district. Those relationships must be honored.

The 2022 vote to restructure the Coronado complex will require significant support in the coming years. This gives the opportunity for an expanded stand alone middle school, giving them the space and resources they need. However, some families will have moved schools a handful of times, and some may have siblings separated who would have been all together at the K-8. Teachers will need to move classrooms and take on new roles under new site leadership.

This restructure needs to be monitored and the complex lifted up in order for this to succeed.

Our students must be exposed to multiple industries and career paths throughout their education. Not only with formal classes, but interactive events, presentations, internship opportunities, and field trips to name a few. Our partnership with the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) and Scottsdale Community College (SCC) are a great start, but by far the end of what we can do to prepare our students for fields and education beyond K-12. Support for this area needs to be grown and further developed.

Providing resources to staff without training or buying a trendy program without buy-in will not produce success. Simply having a guidance counselor in the building, will not fulfill student needs to answer questions about next year’s schedule, continuing their education after high school, or securing a job. Teachers and staff have unique roles that need to be supported.

In 2020-21, an SUSD staff survey reported that only 30% of respondents felt the district leaders communicated a clear vision, were in tune with school level issues, or managing a district budget responsibly. Investing in key staff will be investing in our students.

Many SUSD choice schools and programs have filled academic and area of interest needs. Some programs are more well known than others. Due to district enrollment only capturing about 50% of the SUSD zoned students, the district should consider a position focused on working with families entering kindergarten, or new families looking at SUSD to find the right SUSD school or program for their student. SUSD does not have a uniform curriculum; it’s concerning it’s been purchased this way. Re-thinking how the district spends money and invests in all of our schools is important for the future.

With so many options, an easy way for families to find their school choice within SUSD should be a available.