Business Partnership Aids Local Schools
Published Jul 03, 2008
Champions of Education Executive Director Lamar Mitchell stands among elementary school children.
The times, they are a-changin’ – and Catawba County education is changing with them.
Through Champions of Education, a Catawba County Chamber of Commerce initiative, local businesses are joining forces to ensure that the county’s 25,000 students receive a 21st-century education.
“For the longest time, our community was a manufacturing community where you didn’t have to graduate high school to get a decent job,” says Lamar Mitchell, executive director for Champions of Education. “That is no longer the case, and we want to do whatever we can to make sure our students get to the level of skill that’s required now.”
Among other goals, the program seeks to improve elementary-level achievement, which is foundational to long-term academic success. To that end, Champions of Education participants recently secured $500,000 of state money to expand More at Four, a public preschool program.
“That funded 31 additional slots for children so they can go into school ready for kindergarten,” Mitchell says. “It really showed the true power partnership between businesses and schools.”
The program is also working on recruitment incentives to attract the nation’s best and brightest teachers.
“We’re looking at things like grocery cards and discounts at our furniture stores to supplement the basic salary package that we’re able to offer. This is something that’s been tried in cities like Charlotte with great success,” Mitchell says.
As Champions of Education expands, Mitchell sees benefits both for Catawba County businesses and for the community as a whole.
“We’re training the next generation of employees with the skills that our businesses need to adapt and compete in a global economy,” he says. “We also know that, when you have a better-educated community, you’re going to have a lower crime rate and higher property values. That makes this something that benefits every single citizen.”
Story by Kathryn Royster
Photo by Ian Curcio
Current Weather Conditions In Hickory, NC (28603)
Rain, and 54 ° F. For more details?
Click here...
