It was a year of bond projects, budget override and board meeting policy changes in the Scottsdale Unified School District but looming on the 2020 horizon is the selection of a new superintendent, a task many Governing Board members are excited to tackle.
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It was a year of bond projects, budget override and board meeting policy changes in the Scottsdale Unified School District but looming on the 2020 horizon is the selection of a new superintendent, a task many Governing Board members are excited to tackle.
As 2019 closes, so does the first year of this iteration of the SUSD Governing Board, which saw Jann-Michael Greenburg and Patty Beckman join Allyson Beckham, Sandy Kravetz and Barbara Perleberg at the start of the year. Ms. Beckman also became the board president while Ms. Beckham became vice president.
Through the year, the board saw the advancements of Kiva, Hohokam and Cherokee elementary school bond projects; the growth of Saguaro High School’s Math and Science Academy; and the voters passing a maintenance and operations budget override. A full slate awaits the board members in 2020.
One such topic is finding a new superintendent as Dr. John Kriekard’s contract will be up in June. The Governing Board already punted selecting a replacement last year but appear determined to find the right fit in 2020.
The Independent reached out to the five board members and received responses from four, who reflected on the past year and looked ahead at the months to come. Ms. Pereleberg did not respond to emails requesting comment for this piece.
Jann-Michael Greenburg
•Looking back on 2019, how do you feel about what the Governing Board accomplished over the past 12 months?
Looking back at 2019, I believe our district has seen a number of successes.
We are continuing to work on our bond projects which this year included the rebuild projects at Cherokee, Hohokam, and Kiva schools. New facilities and technology helps foster a strong learning community for our students, which is a key priority for me. Among other projects, we have also repaired or replaced significant portions of Coronado High School’s roof, which ensures that our students have a safe and comfortable learning environment all year around.
We also continue to build STEM and STEAM education at a number of our campuses through various programs like Discovery Education. Navajo and Laguna are now STEM certified schools. 17 of our schools are also implementing a “science every day” form of instruction, which helps bolster our students’ interactions with science topics.
Other educational developments include the significant growth of the Math and Sciences Academy at Saguaro High School and the implementation of IB programs at Anasazi and Mountainside, which ensures that there is now a complete K-12 IB program at SUSD for students to undertake.
Nearly all SUSD schools also received A and B rankings this year, and Coronado High School moved up in its rankings thanks to the hard work of dedicated students, teachers, and administration at that campus.
SUSD has drastically reduced its enrollment decline as well, which means that it is attracting and retaining more students with our amazing programs and extra-curricular activities. This has not been achieved without hitches, but it is still a great success for which I am thankful.
•What is one issue/topic you are most proud of accomplishing this past year?
I am proud to support our administration in all of their endeavors to improve education for all students and broaden the range of educational opportunities that students have access to. As a board member, I am also personally proud of my work to improve the board’s relationship with our community, including moving the public comments section of Board Meetings back to its original time slot at the beginning of board meetings and successfully advocating for the removal of unconstitutional language contained in SUSD’s public comments policy.
•Is there any issue/topic you wish had a different outcome?
I am a strong advocate for internal controls and the development of an internal auditing department. Issues that arise within SUSD create a distraction from our goal of ensuring all students are reaching their full potential, and having internal auditors who constantly review each department’s work and improve our efficiency and reduce the risk that such issues will arise. I wish that I convinced more of my colleagues to support the development of an internal auditing department this year, but I look forward to the opportunity to convince them one last time in January 2020.
Patty Beckman
•As 2020 nears, what are some topics you are most excited about visiting as a Governing Board? Why?
As 2019 closes and 2020 begins, SUSD will be in the process of searching for a new superintendent. I am optimistic that the significant progress our district has made, over the last year, will attract a qualified and talented candidate pool.
We are fortunate to have Dr. Kriekard currently in the superintendent role and willing to provide guidance so the transition to new leadership is seamless and positive.
I am very proud of our 2019 accomplishments including:
The voters passing our Maintenance & Operations Budget Override;
Approving a STEAM accreditation for Laguna and Navajo Elementary schools;
Launching a vaping awareness campaign;
Eliminating the reduced lunch price fee;
Providing 7,560 new laptops for science students;
Naming Anasazi Elementary School as a Candidate School for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP);
Approving a 5% pay increase for ALL employees; and
Adopting a new math curriculum.
As 2020 begins, we continue our focus on strong academics and programs in the district and renew our commitment to social emotional learning (SEL).
I believe today’s students are facing challenges that didn’t exist as recently as five years ago. If we expect our children to reach their academic potential, we must not only give them academic tools but emotional support tools, as well.
I am excited and optimistic to continue discussions about how SUSD can significantly lower our student to counselor ratio and hire more psychologists and social workers. Supporting the whole child is how we achieve academic excellence.
I am also proud to be part of aligning the program trajectories in our learning communities. When a family enrolls their child in one of our K-5 elementary schools, they should feel confident that the program will be built upon in the middle school and strengthened in the high school. It is exciting to see Anasazi become part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) and eventually feed into Desert Mountain High School’s IB Programme. We also now see the alignment in the Saguaro Learning Community with Navajo’s STEAM program matriculating to Mohave MS, and then to The Math and Science Academy at Saguaro HS. My goal is to entice every family that enters our elementary schools to want to stay in this district through high school.
I would also like to continue working with the neighboring cities and towns such as Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix, and Paradise Valley to partner and create the safest learning environment we can for our students. We have realized successful collaborations regarding crosswalks and other student concerns. This district is changing, and with this change, relevant discussions are needed. I value the district’s collaborations with our neighboring communities to support our shared students.
These are just a few of the many worthwhile endeavors under consideration for SUSD in 2020. Our district is moving in the right direction. I am grateful to be part of this exciting time and proud to see Scottsdale Unified School District continue to be the choice for excellence in education.
•What do you hope you and your colleagues are able to accomplish in the coming year? Why?
In my opinion, the Governing Board’s most important task for 2020 will be the hiring of a qualified and talented permanent superintendent. This district has had six superintendents in the last 10 years. We need longevity and stability so we may focus specifically on our core purpose of ensuring that all learners reach their full potential.
Also, I personally would like to see SUSD continue to foster an environment of strong collaboration and communication between district leadership, principals and educators. Listening to the individuals who are with our children every single day is paramount to understanding what is needed in our classrooms.
•What will 2020 entail for the community?
2020 will be a busy year. SUSD will be hiring a new superintendent, finalizing plans for our school rebuilds, strengthening academic programs, hiring more counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists, and continuing to attract and retain the best educators in the state.
Our SUSD community is very knowledgeable and involved. Our taxpayers care. They care about our schools and they also care about how their tax dollars are spent. Our community recently voted to approve the Maintenance and Operations Budget Override. With the passing of this override, we will be able to support and grow our programs. However, we also have an obligation to be fully transparent and fiscally responsible. I am optimistic that not only will the district handle its finances ethically and prudently, but that we will be able to add an additional layer of accountability by hiring an auditor.
We made significant positive progress in 2019. I am confident that we will make even greater progress in 2020. I am proud of Scottsdale Unified School District and all of those who have contributed to making it a district of excellence. Furthermore, I am truly honored and grateful to have served as Governing Board President. The future is most definitely looking bright for SUSD.
Allyson Beckham
•As 2020 nears, what are some topics you are most excited about visiting as a Governing Board? Why? What do you hope you and your colleagues are able to accomplish in the coming year? Why?
1) Hire a new Superintendent
Why: The Superintendent manages every aspect of the district and influences its tone, culture, and vision. Although the schools each have their own unique characteristics and programming, the district leadership models, supports, and impacts the overall success of the district.
Dr. Kriekard’s term is up on June 30, 2020. The business of hiring a new Superintendent will take place in the first two months of the year. The application deadline is Jan. 10, 2020. Finalist selection is Jan. 27-31 and interviews are Feb. 10-14. The final selection will be announced at the end of February.
2) Plan the budget for 2020-2021
Why: I believe the district has available funds to enhance student academic growth and provide additional support systems for our community’s priorities.
Mr. Jeff Gadd, the district CFO, provided a preliminary budget and new process in November’s Governing Board meeting. This upcoming year, the community—including parents, teachers, students, and community members—will have an opportunity to provide input on what is most important to them. The community meetings will be held at the Mohave District Annex at 8500 E. Jackrabbit Road at 6 p.m. on Jan. 30 and Feb. 27, 2020. I hope additional funds for our community and teachers’ priorities will be reflected in the upcoming budget.
3) Review the evaluation process
Why: There is a need to review the evaluation process—for all employees—to improve upon the continued professional development and growth of our teachers, staff, and administration. The Governing Board should also consider a formal evaluation process for its members.
4) Listen to our community
Why: SUSD is a public school district, and one of the benefits and strengths of public education is our community of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members collectively working together to create the best possible education for our youth. Public schools have an opportunity to model our democracy and sense of civic responsibility. I encourage and ask that you consider participating in one of the opportunities below to share your ideas, input, and talents with your district and school.
Coffee with the Superintendent for each of our five learning communities
Desert Mountain High School, Feb. 26, 2020 from 8-10 a.m.
Chaparral High School, April 22, 2020 from 8-10 a.m.
(Arcadia, Saguaro, and Coronado High Schools were in the Fall of 2019)
Teen Town Hall meetings for our students
Saguaro High School, February 2020 (date and time TBD)
Desert Mountain High School, April 2020 (date and time TBD)
(Arcadia High School’s Teen Town Hall was held in November, 2019)
Budget Meetings
Time listed above
Public Comment at our monthly Governing Board meeting
Public comment is heard on the third Tuesday of the month at our meeting at Coronado High School at 5 p.m.
Scottsdale Parent Council meetings
See the website for meeting dates: scottsdaleparentcouncil.org
School PTO
See the list of opportunities on each school webpage: susd.org
•What will 2020 entail for the community?
In 2020, our community looks forward to welcoming a new Superintendent, having an open mind to new leadership, and continuing to create an environment of growth-minded learning, academic growth, and innovation for the 21st century economy.
Sandy Kravetz
Editor’s Note: The Independent presented Ms. Kravetz with the same questions as Ms. Beckman and Ms. Beckham but she chose to answer with one comment for all three questions.
At the beginning of 2020 the Governing Board will hire a new superintendent, fulfilling one of its most important responsibilities. I hope to select a candidate who will build upon our goal of ensuring all individual learners reach their full potential, and empower our principals to be academic leaders.
Scottsdale is a demanding district with a vocal, involved community. Ideally, we will choose a candidate who has experience in a similar district whose tenure will be longer than his/her predecessors of the past 15-plus years.
By the end of the school year and before Dr. Kriekard retires, I look forward to updates about the implementation of programs at several of our schools: AVID at Copper Ridge K-8 and Hohokam/Yavapai; Internationl Baccalaureate at Anasazi Elementary and Mountainside Middle School; and DiscoveryEd STEAM at Laguna and Navajo.
The district has hired additional psychologists for our sites this school year. I am interested to learn how this invigorated department is aiding our students social and emotional well-being.
Finally, I look forward to our Governing Board and administration engaging in a review of school start times’ impact on students and how we may be able to reduce the number of bus drivers, which have been a challenge to find the past few years, by adjusting our schedules. By scrutinizing schedules and reviewing transportation resources, I believe we can generate a solution that helps students and their families and adds efficiency to district fleet operations.
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