1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 The conversation continues as Alicia Haygood sits down with Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel for Part 2 of their conversation about the future of SUSD. In this episode, Alicia and Dr. Menzel continue their discussion about what comes next following the district’s school closure discussions. Dr. Menzel explains what Phase Three could look like, the district’s plans to develop growth strategies for each learning community, and the goal of creating thriving schools that attract families back to Scottsdale Unified. They also take a closer look at the proposed $375 million SUSD bond, what bond dollars can and cannot be used for, aging school infrastructure, HVAC systems, technology, safety and security, and why the district says continued investment in its facilities is important. Alicia and Dr. Menzel also discuss how SUSD is approaching artificial intelligence in the classroom, including the opportunities and challenges AI presents for students and teachers. Dr. Menzel explains why he believes students still need productive struggle and how the district is working to find the right balance between technology and learning. The conversation also touches on superintendent compensation, upcoming school board elections, the timeline for future school closure decisions, parent feedback, school choice, enrollment challenges and Dr. Menzel’s hopes for the upcoming school year. This episode was recorded on July 29, 2026, following the most recent school board and committee meetings. Some information discussed may have changed since the recording. If you have children in SUSD, are considering moving to Scottsdale, own property in the community, or simply care about the future of Scottsdale, this is an important conversation to hear. Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of Alicia Haygood’s conversation with Dr. Scott Menzel wherever you get your podcasts. &amp;nbsp; https://www.susd.org/our-district/district-committees/phase-ii-design-advisory-team Scottsdale Vibes http://scottsdalevibes.media <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42372245/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/5ee4b5/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/42372245