Scottsdale school district votes for new president amid dossier allegations

PHOENIX — The Scottsdale Unified School District board voted Monday night to elect a new president amid allegations that President Jann-Michael Greenburg distributed a dossier on some parents, including photos and personal finances.

The five-member board in a special meeting voted 4-1 to elect Patty Beckman as interim president, with Greenburg being the only no vote.

Superintendent Scott Menzel in a statement said the private dossier was allegedly created and maintained in publicly accessible Google drive folders by the father of Greenburg “and shared by the latter.”

“The existence of these files is disturbing and unacceptable,” Menzel said in a statement released after the meeting. “The dossier, which included disparaging descriptions of parents who share differences of opinion on some matters with board members and the district, is inconsistent with the board’s prescribed duties and with our core values.

“The focus of the governing board should remain solely on improving educational opportunities for each and every one of our district’s 22,000 students. The decision this evening ensures that with new leadership this will be the top priority.”

The Scottsdale Police Department in a statement Saturday said it was “aware of the allegations against Scottsdale Unified School District President Jann-Michael Greenburg. We are conducting an investigation into the matter and will report our findings once it is complete.”

Menzel in the statement also said the district initiated an independent forensic investigation to see if any school resources were used to create, maintain or modify the alleged dossier.

Greenburg, a business executive and attorney, during the special meeting said he strongly supports the investigations.

“There appear to be bad actors involved and I am confident our law enforcement professionals will quickly resolve these issues,” Greenburg said. “Social media in today’s political environment can cloud judgment and generate fear that can cause all of us to react hastily as I believe has occurred here.

“I do believe that we do not have all the facts and without all the facts we cannot make a decision that is in the best interest of the district.”

Board members Zach Lindsay, Dr. Libby Hart-Wells and Beckman called for Greenburg to resign.

“We need to be 100% focused on our students. After 2 years of COVID upheaval, they desperately need our help,” Beckman said after being appointed as the board’s interim president.

“Unfortunately, I feel that while Jann-Michael Greenburg remains on the board the focus will not be on our children and that’s why I am also asking for him to consider resigning.”

Beckman will serve in the role through the end of Greenburg’s term in January of next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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