📢 Maricopa County Attorney Office sides with grandfather, 30-year Scottsdale resident, who was denied entry to SUSD school closure committee meeting. Mr Bengert filed the Open Meeting Complaint with the AG, who (for unclear reasons) referred the matter to MCAO. MCAO to district: despite prior OML violation warnings from AG, district unlawfully structured school closure committee. “SUSD parents should be outraged that the Governing Board and Dr. Menzel denied them rights guaranteed by law while considering such impactful decision as closing schools,” writes Mr Bengert. “Any legal violation by SUSD is serious, but this one is especially egregious because it concerns perhaps the most consequential decision of Menzel’s tenure: school closures.” “SUSD denied [the community] the legal right to attend the meetings, hear the deliberations, and participate in the process. Had parents been allowed to attend, they could have raised questions and concerns for the board to address as the work proceeded.” “SUSD deserves a Governing Board that sees legal compliance not as a problem to solve, but as an opportunity to demonstrate they truly believe in the values of integrity, honesty, transparency, accountability, openness, and authenticity that SUSD espouses.” “Unless the Governing Board fully understands and addresses the causes of SUSD’s declining enrollment and evaluates every viable option, it is unlikely to solve the problem. Closing schools under an ill-conceived plan, railroaded through behind closed doors, that fails to assess the full financial impact of the plan is irresponsible and will merely carry the district’s financial problems into the next budget cycle.” @AZFreeNews article link below.