LD4 Voter Guide · Scottsdale schools

Carine Werner voted to keep Copper Ridge, Laguna, Pima and Echo Canyon open

Scottsdale Unified Governing Board · State Senator, Legislative District 4

As Scottsdale Unified moved to close neighborhood schools, Carine Werner stood with the families. She voted against school closures, fighting to keep our public schools open.

Twice, the closures passed by a single vote.

Voted to protect public schools

Carine voted to keep four neighborhood schools open: Pima, Echo Canyon, Copper Ridge and Laguna.^{1, 3}

Carine's statement

"We cannot, in good conscience, ask the voters to approve hundreds of millions in school bonds while simultaneously closing existing schools."Carine Werner on Facebook, Oct. 6, 2026, hours before the vote

She called on the district to cut administrative travel, conferences, association memberships and marketing, and to sell campuses it has already shut, rather than uproot kids and families.⁷
She pledged to oppose closing more campuses "without exploring all options, including specialty schools and partnerships."⁷

Pima and Echo Canyon

In December 2025, the board voted 3-2 to close Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon K-8. Carine voted no.¹
She said families had been "blindsided" and that both schools could have thrived with better marketing and more time.¹

"These conversations should have happened a long time ago . . . so that families were not blindsided."Carine Werner, SUSD board meeting, Dec. 9, 2025

Pushing to plan ahead

In January 2026, Carine moved to create a Planning and Boundary Design Advisory Committee, giving families a voice on attendance areas and long-range planning before closures are on the table. The board rejected it 3-2.⁵

"Instead of being reactive I'm looking for ways to be proactive and avoid what just happened."Carine Werner on the Pima and Echo Canyon closures, January 2026

Copper Ridge and Laguna

When the district proposed a second round of closures in 2026, Carine pushed for a full board discussion before any vote.²
On Oct. 6, 2026, the board voted 3-2 to close Copper Ridge K-8 and Laguna Elementary, displacing hundreds of students. Carine voted no, and first moved to table the vote.^{3, 4}

Questions parents are asking

Are Copper Ridge and Laguna closing?

Yes. On Oct. 6, 2026, the Scottsdale Unified Governing Board voted 3-2 to close Copper Ridge K-8 and Laguna Elementary. Carine Werner voted no.³

Where will Copper Ridge and Laguna students go?

Under the district's plan, Copper Ridge students move to Desert Canyon. Laguna students will be divided among Redfield, Anasazi and Cochise elementary schools.⁴

When do the closures take effect?

KTAR and Arizona's Family report the schools will close after the 2026-27 school year.^{4, 6}

How did Carine Werner vote?

No, on both rounds of closures: Pima and Echo Canyon in December 2025, and Copper Ridge and Laguna in October 2026.^{1, 3}

Why it matters

Neighborhood schools anchor Scottsdale families. When one closes, students are moved to new campuses and families lose the school down the street.
Carine has argued that families deserve a real voice before a school closes, not after the decision is made.^{1, 5}

In the news

"Scottsdale Unified School District to close two more schools amid enrollment drop" FOX 10 Phoenix · Oct. 6, 2026
"Scottsdale Unified to close two schools amid declining enrollment" KTAR News · Oct. 2026
"Scottsdale Schools Facing More Closures Amid Declining Enrollment" AZ Free News · Sept. 2026
"Two more Scottsdale schools likely to close" Scottsdale Progress · Jan. 2026
"Two Scottsdale schools to close soon" Scottsdale Progress · Dec. 2025

See Carine Werner's full record →
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Sources

Paid for by Werner for AZ. Authorized by Carine Werner.