Mask Wearing Forces Scottsdale School Board Meeting To Recess

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A scheduled meeting of the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board Tuesday night had to be recessed after members of the audience refused to wear masks.

The district, which announced last week that it would continue enforcing its mask requirement, despite the city of Scottsdale ending the measure on city-owned property, said its decision to recess the meeting stemmed from wanting to ensure student and staff safety.

"We understand that there are differing opinions on the need to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19," said SUSD Superintendent Dr. Scott A. Menzel, in a statement. "We fall on the side of doing what is within our authority to do in order to protect the safety and well-being of our students and staff. The district's decision to maintain the mask policy through the end of the school year (May 27) was previously announced, as has the plan to make masks optional next fall.

"Most of our students are either not eligible or have not been vaccinated, and by following a careful mitigation strategy devised in concert with local, state and federal health agency guidelines and recommendations, we have been successful in preventing our schools from becoming COVID breeding grounds. As a result, we have been able to offer in-person learning opportunities to those students wanting and needing it since last fall."

Menzel also discussed how Tuesday night's meeting, which is the last one of the school year, was meant to honor the district's outstanding students, including the class of seniors set to graduate this month.

He added that it was disappointing for the board to have to end its meeting prematurely, because members of the audience refused to abide by the district's mask policy.

"It was our plan to honor them, as well as several staff members celebrating milestone anniversaries with the district, and also conduct the district’s regular business," Menzel's statement read. "It is disappointing that several of the people in attendance tonight night came to the meeting with the intention of disrupting it, with little regard for what we had hoped would be a special night.

"Scottsdale Unified School District embraces and encourages diversity of thought, but not at the expense of decorum, safety and the rule of law. The district will schedule a follow-up meeting with measures in place to ensure we can conduct business in a respectful environment."