Phoenix Deer Valley U will explain school finance

AZ Republic ^ | Monica Mendoza

[hsmomx3]

NORTH PHOENIX - It's one of the great school-finance mysteries: How can a district spend millions building a fancy new school but in the same year lay off school psychologists and assistant principals?

The answer and more will be revealed in a series of workshops beginning next month for Deer Valley parents and taxpayers. School officials are calling it "Deer Valley University," and in six 90-minute meetings, they aim to break down complicated finance formulas and explain things such as voter-approved bond money and why state facilities money used for construction projects cannot be used to hire staff.

[hsmomx3]

A waste of taxpayer $$$ in my opinion.

[thegreatbeast]

When finances become so complicated that they can't be readily explained you can bet that someone is getting a real scre*ing.

[Xenalyte]

How can a district spend millions building a fancy new school but in the same year lay off school psychologists and assistant principals?

I'm no financier, but I'm guessing that there was a) a need for a new school and b) no need for school psychologists and superfluous assistant principals.

[hsmomx3]

And you ought to see the schools they build. Looks better than some country clubs!!

[PAR35]

It's one of the great school-finance mysteries: How can a district spend millions building a fancy new school but in the same year lay off school psychologists and assistant principals?

Without even looking at the books, I can come up with the simple explanation. New schools are built with bond money out of the capital budget, and paid off over a number of years with future tax dollars; salaries are paid out of current accounts with this year's tax dollars.

[PAR35]

When finances become so complicated that they can't be readily explained you can bet that someone is getting a real ...

Or local reporters are not smart enough to figure it out and tell the public.

[cars for sale]

the local news business in Arizona is worse than God aweful
all CNN and NYTimes and Wash Post natl leads and locally these worthless idgits just read national copy....on local news it is ALWAYS attacks against the Iraq war and taxes are too low......always

[PAR35]

I am old enough to remember when Arizona was conservative. Now look at them - Dem governor Napolitano, senator McCain....

[cars for sale]

ditto but Arizona will rise again...Matt Salmon ran an arrogant campaign IMHO

[hsmomx3]

I heard JD was thinking about running for gov.

[thegreatbeast]

It shouldn't have to be explained over a series of meetings, Chum....

[Nanodik]

If he does he had better put forward a reason to vote for him. Like most Republicrats, he expects votes because, hey - he's not a Dem! It does not work that way anymore and politicos in AZ will actually have to work for their votes.

[Nanodik]

Really, these thing should not be complicated or have to be explained. The Republicrats had a perfect opening to go for school vouchers here and end the govt monopoly on education and guess what they did? They gave us a system that needs to be explained by education bureaucrats.

[cars for sale]

amen to that...I tried to help w/ the Phx rnc party but they "knew it all" .