It’s virtually impossible to argue that in the past few years Guilford County government hasn’t done all it can to fund Guilford County Schools.
The commissioners have added supplements to teacher pay, funded school operations with amazing generosity, helped pass $2 billion in school bonds for construction and added millions more in county money to beef up school security.
Now, as the Guilford County Board of Commissioners goes into the final stages of putting together its fiscal 2023-2024 budget, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston said it’s time for state legislature to provide more funding for the schools.
The major debate regarding the funding of Guilford County Schools is almost always focused on how much money Guilford County government will provide the schools. However, the school system actually receives most of its funding from the state – and Alston said this week that there are still a lot of needs not being met in the schools.
He said he wants state government rather than Guilford County to do more.
“The teachers are still underpaid,” Alston said, adding that other school employees were as well though he added there had been some progress made in raising the wages of “classified” employees such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers.
The current Guilford County Board of Commissioners – that includes a teacher and two former school board members – is very school funding friendly. However, the county’s supply of money for the schools is not infinite. In the current Guilford County budget, 48 percent of the money expended goes toward education. It’s very likely that soon more than half of the county budget will go toward education.
In the current 2022-2023 budget for Guilford County Schools, the operating budget (which doesn’t include construction and repair) totals out at just under $1 billion. Of that amount, $473,635,202 comes from the state, $252,002,182 comes from Guilford County, and $274,068,361 comes from the federal government.
The Board of Commissioners have certainly put its money where its mouth is – or, rather, put the county taxpayer’s money where its mouth is – and now Alston wants to see the NC General Assembly do the same.
He said he has been in talks with state legislators to encourage them to carry more of the burden of school funding going forward.
And our third graders can’t read at grade level. Whose fault is that skip. Don’t blame the state or teachers v
Skip wants more money. As a taxpayer, I want to see that our kids are getting educated. Seems a majority are not at desired levels of proficiency yet you think throwing more money will solve the problem. I believe this and many other school systems have shown proof throwing more money is not the answer. Skip, go back to the drawing board and blow smoke elsewhere.
The monopoly government education racket is a money pit which produces illiterate morons and Lexus driving “educators”.
Everyone does realize that ANY money the schools get whether STATE or COUNTY or CITY comes from those of us who pay taxes so it really doesn’t matter which entity they holdup for it. The answer for more money for the schools should always be “NO”.
Money does not buy good schools. Good teachers, a good curriculum, and discipline does.
As I am sure you are aware they want to build a new school on boylston rd in colfax this is approximately 5 miles from colfax school which is not at capacity and also 30 acres available for purchase adjoining it at a lower price than land now being considering for new school..also excess to the property is already in place four lanes with cross overs for excess a large saving compared to changes that would have to be made on Atkins rd Boylston rd and South bunker hill rd contrary to DOT INCORRECT assessment also Galimore is purpose to join Boylston rd at Atkins rd with companies already committed to put business on the connecting extension of Gallimore Dairy road this additional traffic is far exceeding capacity of traffic on these roads. Being a resident of Boylston rd for 77 years I have seen Atkins and Boylston rd go from gravel and mud to it’s present condition Atkins in the 60 after my grandfather staying after DOT to tar and gravel it Boylston was not tar and gravel till the 80’s only upgrade on Boylston of the wooden bridge because when it rained water was over bridge. These roads were for the residents and also for farm equipment one lane for combines corn pickers is not wide enough for this equipment to share the road with 18 wheelers we now get from Fed X and Amazon farmer equipment and trucks will meet if farmer equip meet mail boxes will be wiped out. Let’s use common sense take safety in considering and the.amount
MONEY THAT CAN BE SAVED BY USING THE.COLFAX SITE. They say they want to center new site 5 miles from Boylston to Colfax is still centered.
Any agreement or disagreement or.further information can be
sent to me at jds4468@yahoo.com
DONNIE SHIELDS