Cut Tucson School Staff or After School Sports?
by David Safier TUSD is talking about cutting somewhere between 100 and 282 positions due of its current budget shortfall. Yet I have heard not a single word about the possibility of saving money by cutting back on after school sports programs. It hasn’t been mentioned as a possibility or issued as a threat. Advertisement … Read more
Tucson Schools Audit Results
by David Safier (TASL) The results of the independent audit of TUSD are in. According to the report, we can save $18 million over five years by making a number of changes, including closing 10 schools and programs. The Star doesn’t break down the cuts in a meaningful way, probably because it dosen’t have the … Read more
HCR 2038: The Arizona Republican Legislature’s Backdoor TABOR
Unable to summon the political will to control spending though they control the state legislature, the Republicans want to put the state on a starvation diet that will affect the health, education, public safety, and welfare of every Arizona citizen. Their means for accomplishing their evisceration of the public fisc is House Concurrent Resolution 2038, … Read more
Sheila Tobias on Donna Branch-Gilby for Pima County Supervisor
Sheila Tobias, a well-known educator and activist here in southern Arizona recently has been circulating her endorsement of Donna Branch-Gilby over incumbent Sharon Bronson in the Democratic primary for District 3 Pima County Supervisor. I thought it really well done, and worth a read for anyone trying to understand why Donna is challenging an incumbent … Read more
Our LD 28 State Representatives Deserve Your Support
My State Representatives, Steve Farley and David Bradley, are two of the good guys. They do a heck of good job and are just damned good liberal Democrats with solid progressive values. I don’t mind that David is obsessed with the welfare of everyone’s kids and Steve with his trains; I think it’s charming, in … Read more
Are Teacher Salaries a Zero Sum Game?
by David Safier (TASL) Here is a taste of things to come. If there’s no money to increase teacher salaries, abandon the current salary schedule with its built-in yearly raises and only give raises to those who jump through the proper hoops. The Kyrene Elementary School District, south of Phoenix (or in the south part … Read more
Star Editorial on Tucson Schools Doesn’t Get It
by David Safier (TASL) Gather a group of hungry people in a room, and throw in a chunk of meat that’s not big enough to feed them all. What do you think will happen? Will they (1) convene an orderly meeting using Robert’s Rules of Order and figure out the best way to divide the … Read more
