Closing Pima and Echo Canyon would save $2 million

Scottsdale Unified School District officials are predicting an $8 million funding gap for next school year and looking for ways to cut costs.

That’s before adding in things like a 2% cost-of-living raise for employees that will cost about $3 million, according to district Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel.

But the controversial proposal to close Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon K-8 schools would only bridge about one-third of that gap, according to information presented to the district’s governing board during its Oct. 28 meeting.

Part of the shortfall is that Arizona is the 48th lowest funded state for public education and that there are more charter and private schools to choose from these days, Menzel said.

That is exacerbated by fund

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