Don’t worry, college sports pay for themselves (or not)

by David Safier This from AP: Faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, are crying foul about the millions of dollars in subsidies directed to the school's athletic department. The campus Academic Senate on Thursday voted 91-68 in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to campus support of the Department of Intercollegiate … Read more

Sobering note on school funding votes

by David Safier Dave Perry, Editor and Publisher of The Explorer, wrote an editorial about the passage and failure of school funding initiatives using the squeaker in Amphi School District as his case in point. At press time, Perry wrote, the Amphi property tax extension was up by 26 votes. Unfortunately, today's Star has it … Read more

For profit colleges need oversight as well

by David Safier I write a lot about the potential dangers of the profit motive in K-12 schools, because my teaching experience allows me to understand how pre-college schools operate. I avoid too much discussion of higher ed because I don't know how it works from the inside. But a few recent articles make the … Read more

Charter schools, the IRS and for profit management companies

by David Safier The IRS has concerns about for profit Charter Management Organizations (CMOs or EMOs) running non profit charter schools. The important term here is "running." While it's perfectly OK for a non profit charter to contract out parts of its curriculum and operation to CMOs, it's a violation of tax regulations for the … Read more

Tucson school paragon of acceptance

by David Safier The above-the-fold photo on the front of today's NY Times' SundayStyles section shows 4 students from Rincon High under the headline, Can a Boy Wear a Skirt to School?   None of the students, male or female, appear to be wearing skirts, but the caption says that Rincon High is a place … Read more