AZ Free News: Scottsdale Schools Superintendent Gets $16k Pay Raise Despite Lower Test Scores

In a concerning development, reported by AZ Free News, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board awarded Superintendent Scott Menzel a $16,000 pay raise, even though student test scores dropped across key academic areas. The board’s decision highlights a troubling trend in public education where financial rewards are disconnected from academic performance, raising serious questions about the priorities in school leadership. AZ Free News states in the article:

Superintendent Scott Menzel will receive a bonus of over $15,700, despite not achieving any of the academic achievement goals for the 2023-2024 school year. Menzel has a base salary of $225,000, a $16,000 stipend, and opportunity for a 20 percent bonus (around $43,200).

SUSD is clearly focused on metrics such as attendance and extracurriculars rather than prioritizing what should matter most—academic achievement. As parents watch funds shift away from classrooms, private Christian education, which sees teaching as a calling and puts stewardship at the forefront, becomes increasingly attractive. SUSD’s own budget revealed that less and less funding is going to classrooms, reaching historic lows, with just 54 percent being spent on actual teachers and students. AZ Free News states in the article:

During last week’s [board] meeting, the board’s budget presentation revealed that SUSD spending on classrooms and teachers would hit a historical low again for the 2024-2025 school year: 54 percent versus nearly 64 percent exactly 20 years ago.

Parents deserve an educational system where their hard-earned tax dollars are directed toward their children’s education, not lining the pockets of administrators. Christian private schools, focused on individual development and accountability, offer a better solution than public institutions that seem to have lost sight of their true mission.

Read the full story here.