Scottsdale School District Ends Use of X, Citing Concerns Over Family-Friendly Atmosphere

By Staff Reporter |

The Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) announced its decision to discontinue using X, citing a lack of a “family-friendly” environment as the primary reason. The move reflects the district’s commitment to ensuring safe communication spaces for families.

This decision, revealed last week, aligns with board policy IJNDB, which governs the use of technology resources within the district. Instead of X, SUSD will focus its social media engagement on Facebook and Instagram to foster appropriate interaction with the community.

“In line with board policy IJNDB and our commitment to safety, SUSD schools are stepping away from X to prioritize family-friendly engagement,” the district stated. They encouraged families to stay connected through their remaining platforms, reasserting their focus on upholding community values.

IJNDB outlines the necessity for technology protections against harmful content, such as obscenity and child pornography. However, critics point out that the district continues to permit access to sexually explicit books and materials in its libraries and classrooms.

In their official statement, SUSD suggested that X failed to support its values, which include policies related to transgender issues for minors, social-emotional learning, and critical race theory.

Interestingly, this announcement came just a week after Election Day, when Donald Trump claimed victory for the presidency and Republicans gained a trifecta of control in government.

Elon Musk’s acquisition of X was aimed at promoting free speech, particularly after concerns that right-wing voices were being muted on social media platforms during and after the 2020 election.

Compounding the district’s challenges, SUSD has seen a significant decline in student enrollment, losing nearly 500 students in the past year, which translates to millions in lost funding. The auditor general has classified the district as “high risk” due to this downward trend. Enrollment plummeted by 10 percent during Superintendent Scott Menzel’s tenure, alongside reports of record turnover among staff.

Financially, SUSD’s investment in classrooms and staff has reached a historical low, with only 54 percent of its budget allocated to these areas, compared to nearly 64 percent two decades ago. This figure closely approaches the record low of 53 percent in the fiscal year 2017.

The parent watchdog group Scottsdale Unites for Education Integrity highlighted that the nine percent budget decrease represents a staggering $40 million cut from areas directly impacting academic achievement.

Despite these issues, Menzel received a pay raise earlier this semester, even as academic performance metrics fell short of expectations. Proficiency levels among students were particularly concerning, with over 8,000 not meeting standards in English-Language Arts, over 9,000 in math, and more than 12,000 in science.

While Menzel met nonacademic goals—such as improving attendance rates and enhancing participation in extracurricular activities—these objectives accounted for less than half of the total goals set for his tenure. Initiatives related to work-based learning and staff retention also fell short of anticipated outcomes.