At the beginning of this new decade, I am excited for the future of education in Rowan County.

Through its work with the Rowan Education Collaborative, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College supports the lofty goals of our commissioners, our public schools and our colleagues at Catawba and Livingstone Colleges to raise the educational aspirations and achievements of our future workforce.

We are working together to become a more prosperous community by expanding opportunities for all to attain a degree, diploma or certificate of value because 65% of the jobs of the future require education beyond high school.

Thank you to all five of the members of the county commission who voted to support placement of a bond issue on the March 3rd ballot that will fund the much-needed Rowan-Cabarrus Community College North Campus Technology Education Complex. We also appreciate that every member of the elected school board has endorsed the project as has the Rowan Chamber of Commerce as a first step in building and improving educational facilities in the county.

What a great way to start the year.

The Technology Education Complex will increase the college’s capacity to educate students in the areas of welding, machining and automotive skills, house the Early College High School and increase opportunities for Career and College Promise (dual-enrollment) high school students to begin their studies in academies in high school and complete them at Rowan-Cabarrus.

Additionally, the bond will allow us to address a serious health concern of our firefighters who are at risk from the effects of smoke and chemicals by financing the construction of a decontamination training facility.

I hope readers will want to learn more about how they can support this bond issue in the weeks ahead. For further information, please call me at 704-216-3450.

Carol Spalding

Salisbury

Editor’s note: Carol Spalding is president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.