New Study Supports Comprehensive Sex Ed

by David Safier Awhile back I wrote about Napolitano turning down abstinence-only sex ed money from the feds. A few days ago, a commenter asked which other states had turned down the money. I couldn’t find an answer, until today, when I read about a new study that concluded students who had abstinence-only education were … Read more

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. Schools … 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

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