In his 1999 state-of-the-state address, Gov. Jim Hunt laid down his plan to make the state's public school system the best in the country by 2010. In his "Report to the People" he recounts the record of his administration's accomplishments. The governor says, "In today's economy, education isn't just a right - it's a competitive necessity." He goes on to underscore the importance of what he calls "a solid education" and "an educated workforce." If the governor is looking for a model of how private businesses and local communities can come together to support public schools, he should come to Guilford County.

A 1997 study showed that a group of four-year-olds who entered the preschool program were so unprepared that they scored in the 9th percentile on school readiness tests. That means that even before they began kindergarten they were already behind 91 percent of other four-year-olds in the country. Then along comes The Cemela Foundation, a champion of at-risk preschoolers that gave $600,000 to expand Guilford County's preschool program. The result: in two years these pre-schoolers advanced from the 9th percentile to the 52nd percentile.

Even with all the technological progress taking place, discussion and debate among teachers and students is still the best method for teaching and learning. The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation pledged $1 million toward Paideia training in Guilford County schools. Now, more than 60 of our 94 schools use the Paideia teaching method in some classes. And it is working. Test scores in schools that are using the Paideia method are improving faster than in schools that aren't using the Paideia method, according to a study conducted by researchers at UNCG. The program works for all children.

Only 25 percent of students who graduate high school go on to complete a four-year degree. The remaining 75 percent must have the tools they need to compete for the technical jobs of the 21st century.

Guilford County has become a national leader in work force preparedness thanks to Guilford Technical Community College and the generous contributions of the private sector. Why? Private business in Guilford County has provided apprenticeships, internships or cooperative learning that combine with relevant technical courses in school-established career paths for students to provide a well-prepared work force for the community.

The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation and the Center for Creative Leadership recognized the need for leadership skills in our public schools and created the Bryan Leadership Development Initiative. The initiative is a five-year, $10 million project of leadership development program for teachers, principals, staff and other committed members of the community. It is the same leadership program that the Center has offered for 30 years to top executives from Fortune 500 companies, high-level educators and government leaders from all over the world. Are there any executives more important than those who teach?

The Character Education program calls for schools to bring responsible behavior back into the classroom. Littleton, Colo., Jonesboro, Ark., Atlanta, Ga., and countless other places have changed the way school systems and communities prepare for the opening of school.

According to the August 8, 1999, newspaper there was a significant change in Charlotte - Mecklenburg schools last fall: All students from kindergarten to senior high now practice a new drill - what to do if an armed gunman raids their school. Also every high school in the district has an additional security guard.

We have seen too many national examples of what happens when respect for others and necessary social skills are not present. With the help of private funding by Guilford County Rotary Clubs, Greensboro College and the Guilford County School Board, the Character Education program continues to promote a moral mandate to young people.

These are just a few examples of our community's support for public schools. But it must not end there. This whole enterprise has only one focus - children. We must not permit lines drawn on a map, mission statements, slogans, test scores and political expediency to cause us to forget that focus on children. Hugh McColl, who lives in that other city, recently summed it up very simply: "…people who are more educated tend to earn more, contribute more to economic growth, support more charitable interests, prepare their children better, use less social services and commit less crime." Guilford County businesses, colleges, universities and public schools are doing a good job of fixing it in Guilford County, and we must be sure that the people of Guilford County know it and believe it. Guilford County is a shining example of what can be accomplished when committed people give the time and resources to make the schools the best they can be.