Hart-Wells: Reject out-of-state political influence in SUSD

My family received a political mailer promoting three Scottsdale School Board candidates that reads “PAID FOR…WITH 95% FROM OUT-OF-STATE CONTRIBUTORS.” On its heels, another mailer we received for the same trio was paid for by an out-of-community political group.

We grew concerned that these mailers signaled this trio represented not our students and their families, but rather non-local control over the education of +20,000 Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) students. Then, I learned one of the candidates in this trio is a political lobbyist. I’m sure she’s a fine person, but seriously? Politics begats politics.

Folks, SUSD was just cited as the top achieving district in the state based on state academic achievement data. Well done, SUSD students and families! While there is always room for improvement, no organization gets the results SUSD posts by putting political puppets in the majority of their board. Reject out-of-state political influence in our excellent Scottsdale schools. Vote Sharkey, Lewis and Pittinsky. 

Libby Hart-Wells, Ph.D., is a Scottsdale resident, parent and president of the SUSD governing board. The opinions expressed here are her own and not those of the Scottsdale Unified School District or governing board. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.