In today’s world, you are either a follower or an original. Rowan County has been given the opportunity by the state to be original through the “renewal district” designation. This places the school system in a unique position, allowing it to tailor the educational experiences of our students to meet their needs, interests and goals.

Whether it’s through the one-to-one initiative or Hurley teacher John Galloway’s old-school syle, education is changing. Being an original is what we seek. Teachers and students alike are asking for a fresh, engaging educational experience. Newer, innovative ways to learn and teach can be found through renewal.

My challenge is for Rowan-Salisbury Schools to be open-minded and outside-of-the-box in regard to funding for education as instructional design. Rowan County leaders, business owners and residents need to come together to figure out how to be an original by supplementing educational funding.

School funding has been cut drastically across the state, and there are no signs of extra money coming in.

Right now, we are dealing with the possibility of closing schools. Sadly, this is the status quo in North Carolina and the U.S.

How do we recover from closing schools? If we can’t afford to maintain, how do we afford new construction? If we try a “renewal funding” and it fails, then the status quo (closing schools) is still an option. Closing schools should be the last option.

Are we really there yet?

— Jason Gardner

Salisbury