Kudos to Rep. Warde Nichols (R-Chandler) for a very readable explanation of how K-12 education in Arizona did not actually suffer any spending cuts in the fixes to the FY 2009 state budget:

A 1.3 percent budget cut is not going to devastate K-12 education in Arizona, regardless of how much screaming the AEA does. And here's the little secret that the education lobby and its cohorts in the press don't tell you. Despite the $133 million reduction to the 2009 K-12 budget, the K-12 budget is still $61 million higher than the 2008 budget. Chances are you didn't know that.

Those who have heard my spiel on education spending will know that I find the above to be a disappointment, rather than a source of relief. There is plenty of room for spending cuts in K-12 education, starting at the top (administration). You could drop a cruise missile on most school district office buildings and not hit anything of educational value.

Nichols' full op-ed can be read here:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2009/04/25/20090425nichols25.html