Calling Scottsdale Superintendent Scott Menzel’s recently revealed racist comments “unacceptable,” Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is calling for his removal.
“Critical race theory has no place in Arizona schools. Superintendent Scott Menzel’s comments are unacceptable. Superintendent Horne joins Scottsdale legislators and parents calling for the removal of Superintendent Menzel.
Critical race theory has no place in Arizona schools. Superintendent Scott Menzel's comments are unacceptable. Superintendent Horne joins Scottsdale legislators and parents calling for the removal of Superintendent Menzel. https://t.co/nNvr5oqKKI
— Arizona Department of Education (@azedschools) February 24, 2023
Horne was referring to a group of Arizona legislators that called on the Scottsdale School District Governing Board to consider taking action against Superintendent Scott Menzel for recently disclosed “hateful comments.”
State Senator John Kavanagh, along with Representatives Joseph Chaplik and Alexander Kolodin, who all represent Legislative District 3 that includes Scottsdale, penned an open letter to members of the Governing Board condemning Menzel for recently resurfaced “offensive and hateful comments he made in a 2019 interview.”
In that interview, Menzel claimed “white identity” is “problematic.”
“There’s a misperception that educational equity is really only for ethnically and racially diverse districts. But White people have racial identity as well, and in fact [it is a] problematic racial identity that we typically avoid,” Menzel told David Spitzley of the Torchlight.
Menzel made the comments, according to AZ Free News, “while he was a superintendent in Michigan,” and they “remain in line with his current beliefs, based on local reporting on his performance in the district over the last two years.”
The legislators note in their letter that they are echoing the sentiments of community members and parents of children in the District, who believe Menzel should be relieved of his duties.
Rep. Kolodin welcomed Horne’s comment.
“With so many leaders sitting on the sidelines, hoping to avoid the controversy, Superintendent Horne’s leadership is appreciated,” said Kolodin. “Racism has no place in our schools, much less when spouted by overpaid unelected bureaucrats who should be focused on helping kids of all races learn math, science, and civics so we can maintain our civilization and keep up with the Chinese.”
Parents also expressed their support for Horne and the lawmakers.
“I echo Superintendent Horne’s call for Scott Menzel’s immediate resignation,” said Jan Dubauskas, a parent with Scottsdale Unites. “Menzel’s priorities are in the wrong place; our academics are atrocious while woke propaganda flourishes. As an SUSD parent and Board Member of Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, our kids deserve a Superintendent who is focused on their academic success, not his personal politics. The sooner he leaves SUSD, the better!”
“Superintendent Menzel made it very clear that his agenda and woke leadership will not change despite of community outcry,” said Shiry Sapir, an education activist and resident of the District. “As we see time and again the broken trust between parents and the SUSD leadership, the only logical remedy is to bring in a Superintendent who stirs clear of controversy and focuses on academics in the district. Menzel’s contract is in place until 2025. Enrollment decline and the fact that so many of Scottsdale residents opt to enroll their kids in charter or private schools should send the signal that they’re not happy. Menzel and his fan club dismiss this fact and will continue to do so to the detriment of the district and our children.”
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