Arizona Charter Schools: The Good, The Bad, and The Costly, Part 5: What’s $6.4 Million Between Friends?

by David Safier

(Here are parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.)

“Six-point-four million? Safier is making this big deal about six-point-four million? I know that sounds like a lot, but as a percent of the state budget . . .”

The Tucson School District just put its reputation and its standing with the citizenry on the line by suggesting four schools had to be closed to make up some of the district’s deficit. The process cost the School Board a huge hunk of credibility it couldn’t afford to lose.

Anyone remember the savings projected for TUSD if all four schools were closed?

$1.8 million. One-point-eight million.

Six-point-four million is about three-and-a-third times more than one-point-eight million. Someone else had better tell TUSD, “Don’t sweat six-point-four million extra given to Cyber Charter Schools. It’s just a drop in the State’s budget bucket.” I, uh, I’m scared somebody at TUSD might hit me if I told ’em that.