Scottsdale Unified School District To Hire Coronavirus Specialist

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Scottsdale Unified School District is aiming to take a more cohesive approach to combatting the coronavirus as new cases continue to spike in the community.

As a result, the school district will hire a full-time specialist to help ensure a "streamlined, coordinated" strategy for tracking and reporting the virus' spread among staff members and students.

As of Friday, the district reported 190 total coronavirus cases across its campuses.

“This new position would essentially be our ‘quarterback,’ the person who would direct SUSD’s efforts to ensure we are taking a consistent approach with our reporting to the county and with our communications to families and staff,” Dr. Scott Menzel, SUSD Superintendent, said in a statement announcing the position.

The position of COVID Specialist was approved by the district's governing board on Nov. 4 and will report to the assistant superintendent of Human Resources, Dr. Jed Bowman, according to the news release.

Menzel said that school nurses and principals need help managing the additional work they have taken on during the pandemic, including contact tracing and submitting required documentation to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

The position will have an annual salary in the range of $70,719 to $80,899 and will entail regular collaboration with on-campus school nurses and principals throughout the school district. The person who fills the role will also be charged with managing the coronavirus-related questions, concerns and feedback the district receives through its Let's Talk initiative.

In a posting on the SUSD Careers website, the district lists out the required experience and duties of the person who will fill the position. No licensing will be required and the job listing emphasizes computer skills and the ability to handle sensitive material, but a background in health does not seem to be necessary.

Here are the required duties:

• Provide strategic oversight, direction, and coordination of COVID-19-related issues with students and staff
• Ensure COVID communication protocols are utilized
• Collaborate regularly with nurses, principals, and Cabinet
• Coordinate accurate documentation of confirmed COVID-19 cases
• Oversee and track district COVID 19-data and metrics
• Remain present and engaged when a case is under investigation
• Use critical thinking and problem solving skills to provide guidance to schools
• Act as a liaison between SUSD and MCDPH
• Respond to inquiries from “Let’s Talk”
• Other duties as assigned

Here is the required experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Experience in a healthcare profession preferred
• Experience in public schools preferred

In his statement, Menzel acknowledged that the position will likely be unnecessary once the pandemic ends, but emphasized that the end is not yet near.

“In consulting with [the health department] and based on my ongoing conversations with other Valley superintendents, it is clear that COVID is going to be with us for a while, and while I hope we don’t need this position for long, we certainly need it now,” Menzel said.