Scottsdale Ex-Superintendent Admits Guilt to Misdemeanor, Receives Probation Sentence

GILBERT, Ariz. — Denise Birdwell, the former superintendent of the Scottsdale and Higley school districts, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense as part of a significant legal challenge she faced. This plea comes after an initial indictment in 2021 that included 18 felony counts linked to procurement irregularities during her tenure at Higley Unified School District in 2012.

Birdwell, alongside other defendants, was accused of bypassing procurement procedures to favor a specific bidder for a construction contract. The allegations also included conflict-of-interest violations, raising serious concerns regarding ethical governance within the district.

On September 6, Birdwell reached a plea agreement, resulting in the reduction of charges to a single misdemeanor count of accomplice to the purchase or appointment of office. As part of her sentencing, she has been placed on six months of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a fine of $2,750.

Additionally, Birdwell is required to file amended tax returns and settle any outstanding tax obligations, fines, or penalties assessed by the Arizona Department of Revenue, as stipulated by court records. Official comments from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office on the case have not been forthcoming.

Following her departure from Higley, Birdwell became the superintendent of the Scottsdale Unified School District. However, her tenure there ended prematurely in 2018 due to emerging conflict-of-interest allegations, culminating in a severance agreement with the district’s Governing Board.

This case draws attention to the importance of transparency and accountability in school district administration, as communities demand integrity in the leadership entrusted with their educational institutions.

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