By J. Graber | Daily Independent (abridged)
Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon K-8 schools will cease to exist after this school year.
The Scottsdale Unified School Board voted 3-2 during it’s Dec. 9 meeting to accept Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel’s recommendation to close and repurpose the two schools.
Board member Dr. Matthew Pittinsky voted with President Dr. Donna Lewis and Vice President Mike Sharkey in favor of closing the schools while board members Carine Werner and Amy Carney voted against it.
Dr. Menzel made his recommendation in light of the fact that district is facing an $8 million short fall next year and he estimates closing the two schools would generate a cost savings of about $2 million.
Pima and Echo Canyon were chosen for the first round of closures because both slipped under 300 students each this year.
In fact, the district has lost slightly more than 6,000 students in the last 15 years and Dr. Menzel has argued it is time to right size the district’s footprint.
Dr. Menzel said he has a plan in place to deliver a “concierge level service” to help families and students to take the next step.
What will become of the school buildings is less clear though.
Dr. Menzel brought Jason Rose, with Rose Allyn PR, to the Nov. 9 board meeting to talk about possibly turning Echo Canyon into an arts magnate. However, Dr. Menzel has stressed that is merely one possibility and is not a plan.
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