SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona public school districts are preparing for significant budget cuts and possible school closures as enrollment continues to decline across the state.
At least two Valley districts will hold public meetings this week to discuss potential school closures. Kyrene Elementary School District is looking to close eight schools, while Scottsdale Unified School District could repurpose up to eight schools over the next two years.
“We’re at a point where we need to make some very difficult decisions,” said Scott Menzel, superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District.
Enrollment drops by thousands in decade
The enrollment decline affects districts statewide. During the 2014-15 school year, 952,000 students attended public school in Arizona. Last school year, that number dropped to 868,000 — a decline of more than 83,000 students in a decade…