BY MIKE FUHRMAN

Speaking at the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on Thursday evening, Gov. Roy Cooper called on local business leaders to become vocal advocates for public education.

The state’s historic investments in critical infrastructure, broadband and clean energy, Cooper said, have helped North Carolina become a national leader for business recruitment and job creation.

While national and international corporations are attracted by the state’s low corporate tax rate, what CEO are really seeking is a highly qualified workforce, the governor said.

North Carolina’s high school graduation rate of 87 percent is the best in the state’s history, high school students were awarded 325,000 workforce credentials, and the state has the most National Board Certified teachers in the U.S.

But, Cooper told a large crowd at the Statesville Civic Center, the N.C. General Assembly’s failure to adequately fund public education threatens the state’s long-term financial well-being.

Starting pay for N.C. teachers ranks 46th nationally and 11th out of 12 Southeastern states, he said, and state funding now lags the national average by $5,000 per student.

Lawmakers approved legislation to spend $4 billion in taxpayer money for private school vouchers over the next decade. As a result, Iredell County stands to lose $2.5 million annually in state funding for education.

Meanwhile, the private schools that benefit from vouchers are not required to hire licensed teachers, provide meals or transportation, or services for EC students. They also don’t have to report student test scores or attendance.

“Taxpayers deserve accountability for their tax dollars,” the governor said. “The voucher scheme provides none.”

Touting the ability of public schools to prepare the next generation of workers and serve as the “glue” that holds communities together, Cooper asked business leaders to contact local lawmakers and push for a moratorium on vouchers until public schools are fully funded, demand that teachers be paid like professionals, and lobby for increased funding for early childhood education.

“We won’t continue to be first in business if we become last in education,” Cooper said. 

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

During the SAGE Awards, Iredell Arts Council Executive Director John Koppelmeyer was honored as the Citizen of the Year.

Bill Brater, president of Nicholson Funeral Home, presented the award, extolling Koppelmeyer’s vast civic contributions over the past two decades.

After relocating to Statesville in 2000, Koppelmeyer worked as CEO of Barium Springs Homes for Children for 16 years, “offering hope and healing to countless children and families across North Carolina,” Brater said.

His community involvement includes service to Stop Child Abuse Now. Grace Baptist Church, Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center, the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce and the Full Bloom Film Festival. He also played an integral role in the redevelopment of Downtown Statesville.

Through his work with the Iredell Arts Council, Koppelmeyer has been a champion for arts and entertainment, leading the nonprofit’s transformation into a “hub of creativity and expression,” Brater said.

“In every facet of his life, John leads with his heart, embodying the values of empathy and kindness. His legacy is not just defined by his achievements but by the lives he has touched and the positive change he has sparked,” Brater explained. “John Koppelmeyer is not just a citizen; he is the embodiment of warmth, compassion, and unwavering dedication to connect people of all walks of life through art.”

Koppelmeyer, who said he was living his purpose, was visibly moved by the recognition.

Afterward, when asked to describe his feelings, he said: “The word is gratitude — and I’m feeling very blessed,” he said.

SAGE AWARDS

The Chamber presented nearly a dozen awards, including:

Ambassador of the Year
Tommacena Douglas

Business of the Year – Large Enterprise
Doosan Bobcat

Business of the Year Award – Small Enterprise
Iredell Free News

Community Impact Award
Iredell Arts Council

Partners in Education Excellence
Flow Automotive of Statesville

The Innovator Award
New Image Services

The Launch Award
Native Ceuticals Apothecary

Leader in Advocacy Excellence
William Morgan

Volunteer of the Year
Melissa Haines

Fusion Award
Iredell Ready Founding Members – Mitchell Community College, Iredell County Economic Development Corp., Iredell-Statesville Schools, Iredell County, Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Centralina Workforce Development, and Mooresville Graded School District.

EVENT SPONSORS

DENSO, KKPR, 220 Cafe, ISCEC, Iredell Health System, Piedmont HealthCare, Jon C. Packman Dentistry, Flow Automotive, Doosan Bobcat, First National Bank, New Image Services, Nicholson Funeral Home, Mountaire, Mitchell Community College, EnergyUnited and Legacy Oral & Facial Surgery.

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BY DEBBIE PAGE