Iredell Statesville Superintendent, Terry Holiday is doing his best to convince our county----and especially our county commissioners, that we need a ton of money (24 million) to move ahead with new schools, renovations etc. A smart man he has worked out a plan which he believes will work with out raising taxes. Our County commissioners are not buying it. He has a very nice article in today's Record and Landmark which focuses on "what schools do for the local economy." He points out that tax payers shouldn't look at funding schools as throwing their money into a pit where they recieve nothing in return. He talks about the jobs that schools create---teachers, and schools must have electricity so the power co. profits, and there's the cafeteria staff and the transportation system (buses), the after school programs and the jobs that would be created for people in the construction business. And the fact that better schools are attractive to outside businesss coming in----Now, we're all in the business of schools--- I think we think about this stuff regularly---but I don't think the average Joe does---even the average Joe with kids in school. I am glad to see him make an effort to educate the public. We've had a difficult time with a previous superintendent---you may have heard the scandal. It's nice to see one who takes a stand in defense of our schools and what we do.

Penny,

It is wonderful to know that the superintendent is truly supportive of educating the public about how the economy benefits from the operation of public schools. He is right, numerous employment opportunities outside the school system are created because of schools.
Most people do not realize how having a school in their neighborhood economically supports the neighborhood. Schools purchase bread, meats, ice cream, mulch, cleaning supplies, furniture, paper products, clothing, shoes, coats, books, etc. The list of what's purchased from local companies is endless. I know that most large orders are through companies who have bided or government contracts, but everyday items are through local suppliers.
Most school employees put 65% of their income back into the local economy. Schools are a part of the local economy whether we acknowledge it or not. What affects schools affects the economy and via versa.