On Tuesday, Former Intel Chief Executive and Board Chairman Craig Barrett delivered a stinging rebuke to the Arizona education system, saying it was hindering the state’s economic-development efforts. The remarks, reported by The Arizona Republic, were delivered at a board meeting of the Arizona Commerce Authority, a newly created replacement for the state’s Department of Commerce.

It is unclear if the remarks were specifically timed to coincide with the ongoing budget negotiations between Governor Jan Brewer and the Arizona Legislature. Brewer’s budget proposal includes $242 million in education funding cuts: $171 million reduction in university budgets and $72 million in cuts to K-12 education. The recently passed Senate plans seeks $235 million reductions for universities and $242 million for K-12.

Barrett said that if the state expected to attract high-tech companies, it needed to invest in efforts to improve its education system, since “quality education is extremely important to a place like Intel, [and] education cutbacks don’t bode well for that.” He added that he would not consider Arizona if he were looking for a place to start Intel right now.

Judy Wood, president of Contact One Call Center Inc., concurred with Barrett that K-12 education offered in the state was just not up to par.

Wood said she hires for a lot of entry-level jobs and has found that students are lacking in basic skills.

Gov. Brewer didn’t directly address Barrett’s remarks but she did say that improvement of Arizona’s education system was the focus of her governorship. “I think I have staked my career [on it,]” she added.