Dems not happy with raid on school funding

by David SafierI posted earlier today (What?) about the plan to withhold $300 million in state payments to school districts. That's bad enough, given how cash strapped schools are, but it's not the worst part. This is supposed to be a rollover, where you withhold payments now but make them sometime in the near future. … Read more

What?

by David Safier It sounds like we're going to get some news soon about a budget deal between the Rs in the legislature and the Guv. One of their plans is simply stunning. The Legislature is expected to take action today on a fast-track bill to strip another $300 million from school districts — potentially … Read more

Jam, not Slam

by David Safier The Arizona Guardian called it a Poetry Slam, and I followed their lead. But it looks like the event at the White House was a Poetry Jam. Having James Earl Jones performing a scene from Othello isn't normal Slam fare. No open mic (a commenter tells me "mic" is short for "microphone," … Read more

Are all AZ education cuts created equal?

by David SafierIn the course of writing for this blog, I've struck up an email conversation with David Reed, a guy who knows more about education budget numbers, and far more about virtual schools (online education), than I do. He's a recent PhD in education, so his research is fresh and current. He sent me … Read more

Barack Obama, meet Alice Cooper?

by David SafierThis from Rolling Stone: Alice Cooper will reportedly share the stage with Barack Obama when the President delivers a commencement speech to an audience of 8,000 Arizona State University graduates and more than 60,000 attendees this Wednesday, May 13th, at Phoenix’s Sun Devil Stadium. Why is the shock rocker on the same bill … Read more