The Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board heard from parents, students and even a state lawmaker on Monday night despite the obstacles the District threw in their way. The Board held the meeting virtually after they aborted their May 19 meeting after being made uncomfortable by parents who showed up to express their displeasure with District’s COVID protocols and concerns with Critical Race Theory-based course work.
In response to the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Board’s decision to reconvene the meeting virtually, Amy Carney, SUSD mother of 6 organized a press conference in front of the Coronado High School while the Board met virtually.
“The board won’t be there, but we the parents will be,” Carney said in her announcement of the press event.
Not only did the parents show up, virtually every speaker during the public comment portion of the virtual meeting shared their concerns about the District’ divisive Critical Race Theory-based (CRT) coursework and COVID protocols:
Robin Snyder describes the division being created in some classes as well as an experience her son had in class since the previous Board meeting
Rep. John Kavanagh address the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board
8th grader Connor Shannon addressed the Board on the subject of COVID protocols
Politico and parent, Kathy Petsas, showed up to talk to the media as well. Petsas, a McCain loyalist, is best known for her attack on conservatives back in 2012 when she told progressive Arizona Republic columnist Laurie Roberts that she was working to “dekook” the Republican Party. “I don’t think that it is being implemented,” Petsas told a reporter from AZFamily.com, referring to Critical Race Theory-based curriculum. “It’s hard for me to understand that. And I think the truth perhaps is somewhere in between.”
Petsas might not see evidence of the divisive coursework, but it could be that she is not looking or the District’s opaqueness is systemic as one parents suggests.
“We have had enough and demand full transparency from our school administrators and governing board,” said Carney. “Hiding behind a video screen in order to avoid facing frustrated parents because of their incompetent decision making is reason enough that every one of these board members should resign immediately.”
According to Carney, “Scottsdale parents want transparency, mask and vaccines optional, and a school system that focuses education on excellence in academics versus wasting precious classroom time on (SEL) Social Emotional Learning and politically charged curriculum that aligns with CRT.”