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SUSD School Closures

Coalition of Greater Scottsdale > SUSD School Closures

SUSD School Closures: What Scottsdale Residents Need to Know

What’s Happening

SUSD is conducting a multi-year consolidation process driven by declining enrollment—a trend influenced by shifting neighborhood demographics, including the concentration of short-term rentals in residential areas.

COGS does not advocate for or against individual campus closures. Our role is tracking municipal impacts:

  • Neighborhood Traffic & Transit: Realigned bus routes, shifted morning/afternoon vehicle queues, and altered collector street flow.

  • Land Use & Zoning: Long-term municipal oversight, adaptive reuse, and zoning protections for decommissioned public school parcels.

  • Neighborhood Stability: The direct link between active local schools, neighborhood character, and residential property values.

Phase I: Completed Closures

  • Vote Date: December 9, 2025 (Approved 3–2)

  • Campuses Closed: Echo Canyon K-8 and Pima Elementary (effective for the 2026–2027 school year).

  • Context: Pima Elementary was fully rebuilt in 2018; enrollment had dropped below 300 students prior to closure.

Phase II: Campuses Under Review

The Phase II review focuses on seven campuses within the Desert Mountain Learning Community:

  • Campuses: Anasazi Elementary, Cheyenne Traditional, Copper Ridge, Desert Canyon Elementary, Desert Canyon Middle, Laguna Elementary, Redfield Elementary.

  • Design Advisory Team: A citizen advisory committee (43 members March–May 2026; 35 members June–August 2026) evaluated district data and presented consolidation models to the Board in August 2026.

  • Status: SUSD has not released formal school pairing plans. A final vote is anticipated in October 2026.

Open Meeting Law Complaint

  • Filing Date: April 2026

  • Details: A Scottsdale resident filed a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office alleging SUSD’s Phase II Design Advisory Team violated Arizona Open Meeting Law by conducting closed sessions while operating under Board direction.

  • Parties Named: Superintendent Scott Menzel and Board President Donna Lewis.

  • Current Status: Under review by the Attorney General’s Office; the district stated it had not received formal notification. COGS tracks open-government compliance and will provide updates as rulings are issued.

Critical Dates & Milestones

  • September 8, 2026 (6:00 PM): SUSD Governing Board Regular Meeting — Coronado High School

  • September 22, 2026 (6:00 PM): Statutory Public Hearing on Phase II — Desert Mountain High School Auditorium

  • October 6, 2026 (6:00 PM): SUSD Governing Board Meeting & Vote — Coronado High School

  • November 3, 2026: General Election — $375 Million SUSD Capital Bond on ballot

How Residents Can Take Action

  • Email the Governing Board: govbrd@susd.org reaches all five elected members and the Superintendent.
  • Submit written testimony: Comments emailed to govbrd@susd.org before 12:00 PM on a meeting day are added to the official board packet.
  • Attend the September 22 public hearing: Desert Mountain High School auditorium, 6:00 PM — this is the formal opportunity for public comment on Phase II.
  • Loop in your HOA: Ask your board to submit a letter on specific neighborhood concerns — traffic, bus routes, or the future use of any closed campus.
  • Contact City Council: School closures intersect with city traffic planning and municipal parks; residents can copy citycouncil@scottsdaleaz.gov to request coordinated review.
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