Scottsdale Unified board debates resignation, online program

Apr. 23—Four months ago, Coronado High principal Amy Palatucci posted a joyous photo from a trip as her Facebook profile picture.

On April 4, she changed her Facebook profile image — to a broken heart.

The previous day, she submitted a resignation letter to the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board.

Administrators and teachers resign all the time, as evidenced by Platucci being but one of 30 resignations considered by the board under "personnel actions" at its April 9 meeting.

That list of resignations included Karen Benson, an assistant superintendent.

The board signed off Benson and other resignations and scores of other personnel actions, including new hires Brittany Walker as principal of Copper Ridge Elementary at a salary of $105,084 and Tandehl Collentine-McLean as Hopi Elementary School assistant principal at a salary of $82,841.

But board members Amy Carney and Carine Werner demanded more information on the circumstances behind Palatucci's resignation.

The two pushed for an executive board meeting to privately discuss what led to the sudden resignation.

Superintendent Scott Menzel commented "it's not common for the board to question a resignation ...The whole situation makes me sad."

Werner moved to table the resignation "for lack of information ... As elected board members it is my job or at least goal to keep good educators."

Werner said she heard from "people through emails and phone calls" expressing "concern with what happened with Ms. Palatucci."

Carney said, "We have no facts ... we have very little information on this.

"It is our duty as board members to have proper information and know what is going on," Carney said. "We do not have that. We need to understand what happened for this abrupt resignation ... We must table this and go into executive session so we can understand the facts."

Added Werner, "There's too many irregularities here."

Werner and Carney were outgunned, with Julie Cieniawski, Libby Hart-Wells and Zach Lindsay voting to accept the Palatucci resignation letter with no further action.

On April 10, SUSD sent a letter to parents of Coronado students, explaining Palatucci's resignation was accepted, expressing "gratitude for her six years of dedicated leadership" and announcing Melinda Splitek is Coronado's interim principal.

In her resignation letter, Palatucci states, "I understand I will be reassigned within SUSD until Dec. 31, 2024.

"It has been an immense privilege to serve the Scottsdale Unified School District since 2011, and the experience of working with our learners and future leaders has been profoundly rewarding."

During six years as principal of Coronado, she says, "I have poured my heart and soul into nurturing and guiding our students toward their fullest potential. It has been a dream come true to lead such a dedicated and talented group of individuals."

Before concluding by thanking SUSD for the opportunity to lead Coronado, Palatucci makes a rather cryptic comment:

"While I had always envisioned retiring from Coronado High School, circumstances have led me to this difficult decision to step down."

Palatucci did not respond to a request to explain her resignation.

Jobs for America's Graduates named Palatucci the recipient of its 2020 National Educational Leadership Award.

Second Step battle

At the April 9 meeting, Carney and Werner also were outvoted after they opposed the online Second Step Middle School Project.

According to board information, "Second Step Middle School helps students cope with challenges, create and maintain positive relationships, prevent problematic behaviors, and succeed both socially and academically.

"The curriculum focuses on four topics: mindsets and goals; developing a positive sense of self; decision making; and managing conflict."

SUSD will not have to pay for the program, Menzel said.

"We can save the district dollars," he stressed.

Carney and Werner were skeptical about the program.

Werner read from an email from an unnamed staff member that expressed concerns about Second Step, including that it would be "a logistical nightmare" and "the topics and subjects are uncomfortable to teach."

Carney called Second Step mysterious, at best.

"I have not been able to review it as a board member," Carney said.

"Can families review the curriculum?"

She also challenged a mandated student survey, which she worried could be done without parental permission.

Menzel countered that the program can be customized to fit the district's policies and procedures.

The majority vote approves SUSD receiving a grant for the program from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.

The grant covers three years of the Second Step Middle School web-based curriculum, lessons, and student materials, plus training for teachers at participating schools.

Other approvals

Despite the two hotly discussed items, he April 9 meeting was not entirely made of battles.

The board unanimously approved:

Secondary World Languages and Elementary DLI (Dual Language Immersion) curriculum for the 2024-2025 School Year.

Secondary science curriculum for the 2024-2025 School Year.

Acceptance of Audits and Compliance Questionnaire for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

Governing Board Policy: HA — Negotiation Goals and Priority Objectives.

The SUSD board's next scheduled meeting is May 14.