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A Boost For Gaston Schools Commissioners Offer Money To Improve ResUlts For Gaston school officials, envisioned to reach'~b~e 1992 average Wednesday .brought. a stunning and -- but they'll keep reaching if il takes wgn.defful boost: Gaston County corn- another year. mtss~oners said they wanted to bring. Now the commissioners want the local school funding to the state aver- age over the next lhree to four years -- school board tb set out its goals, and to talk about the expected results. They and said they would raise property tax don't want vague pramises to improve rates 6 cents a year to do it. That education, but something familiar and involves increases totaling as much as 24 cents by the fourth year. In return, measurable, like improvement in lest the commissioners wanl a plan for scores -- though they didn't tell the better education and some ways to schools what measures to ~se. The measure it. commissioners want to keep in touch -- with progress reports at joint meet- The bold offer grrws out of several ings every six months. things, says County Manager Phil H' ,. It's an exciting story of partnership tnely. There s long been concern that and courage, and not just for folks in Oaston's local funding of schools -- Gaston County. The' interest in im- abou! $110 per capita -- was far proving schools is widely shared. Sois below the $150 averhge for N.C. coun- the interest in measuring results: Ac- ties. And commissioners perceive that countability is high on the agenda tn ~chools are at the top of their priority many places -- including Charlotte- list and the community's. Nleekleaburg,' the State Board of Edu- Bth the schools and the county had cation, the state superintendent's of- been in a Jchicken-and-egg s~xuanon: rice and the governor's off, ce. Gaston Should the county make a long-term schools can make an immediate con- funding comraitment the schools tribution to the effort to develop a set could count on and plan for, or should · of common measures. the schools first develop a long-range plan the coramissioners could believe It's a raarvelous opportunity for in and pay for? Gaston schools. But the comrp3ss~on- .... ers' willingness -- their eagerness -- Now, Mr. Hinely says, they've de- to spend whal it takes to improve cided to take a chance on each other, education ought to be an inspiration to The commissioners' plan, adding citizens and officials in neighborin~ about $2.5 million 'a year to local counties as well. We hope the commis- funding, will bring Gaston schools to sioners' boldness will not just ap- the 1988 state average in three years, piauded by their colleagues in the Then the fourth year, a similar boost is region, but emulated. Char. observer 3-26-89 5