Occam's razor here. Schools have been getting crunched for cash every year for the last 10 or so, and every couple years a new local politician is elected with

Occam's razor here. Schools have been getting crunched for cash every year for the last 10 or so, and every couple years a new local politician is elected with promises to "eliminate waste", after the last guy declined to run again in disgust at how little he could do (can't change the revenue level or union contract, all he can do is try to account for stupid pencils). New guy wants to do something, though, so the end result of that is penny-wise and pound-foolish policies. No need for a grand conspiracy.