10/05/2026
The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board is expected to consider one of three plans to repurpose or close several schools in the north part of the city at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6th. While we were hoping that SUSD would have posted its agenda by now, it had not yet shown up on the district’s website. Arizona law only requires that it be posted 24 hours before the meeting.
The Governing Board listened to parents, administrators and even students make their case for keeping their school open at a special Sept. 22nd meeting at Desert Mountain High School. About 100 people spoke at the event.
Parents and teachers supporting Desert Canyon Elementary and Middle schools made up the first few speakers in support of keeping the schools open, preferably under Option C, which calls for Copper Ridge students to relocate at a combined DCES/DCMS campus. Laguna students would move to Redfield.
Parents from Redfield and to a much lesser extent, Copper Ridge, also made their cases to keep their schools open. But the biggest turnout came from Laguna parents, who would see their learning community closed under Options A, B and C.
Under Option A, Copper Ridge students would also move to DCES & DCMS, while Redfield and Laguna students would move to the Cheyenne Campus. Cheyenne students would move to Copper Ridge.
Under Option B, DCES & DCMS students would move to Copper Ridge while Laguna students would move to Redfield. Cheyenne would remain unchanged, though students might eventually be moved to a repurposed Desert Canyon campus.
SUSD also answered questions asked by members of the governing board on a pdf posted on Oct. 2nd. One important question for McDowell Mountain Ranch residents asked “What is the cost implication of merging DCES and DCMS?” which was opposed by many of the speakers. The answer: Merging the schools would save a projected $369,000, based on models A and C.
The Q&A also includes topics such as bus routes, student churn after a decision is made, and what might happen to employees following school closures, which would happen in the 2027-28 school year. Readers can find the Q&A here:https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1790969054/susdorg/nifs9cgxfsr1zf2o0lho/susd_info_B-MemoPhase-Follow-Up_20261002.pdf
• The meeting is expected to be begin at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Coronado High School, 7501 E. Virginia Ave. in Scottsdale.
• To watch via YouTube, go to the web address and then click “Live:” https://www.youtube.com//streams
Scottsdale Progress: https://www.scottsdale.org/city_news/scottsdale-families-defend-their-schools/article_d18e2f2f-02f7-4dc3-86bd-32a0a7749294.html
