News-Record.com

Read the summary and full report of the brief below:

GREENSBORO --- An analysis released Friday by the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNCG found that Guilford County Schools had a local economic impact of $1.32 billion and supported 15,777 jobs during the 2006-07 school year.

That impact is close to the economic and jobs impacts of Moses Cone Health System, the High Point Furniture Market and UNCG, according to the center's Director Andrew Brod, who did the study at the request of the district. The analysis includes the total impact of the district's operations, and indirect savings stemming from a lowered drop-out rate, increased scholarships and Advanced Placement collge credit.

"This gives you a feel for what kind of footprint Guilford County Schools has in our local economy," Brod told elected officials gathered at a breakfast in Greensboro on Friday.

The study also included a separate total of the amount of direct and spillover dollars spent in Guilford County as a result of the 2000 and 2003 school bonds.

Brod calculated that the previous $500 million worth of bonds contributed $787.1 million to the local economy. He estimated the 2008 school bonds, totaling $457.3 million, would contribute $656.8 million.

Brod will present the report again to the public at 4:30 p.m. on Monday at Andrews High School and at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Smith High School.

Perhaps these reports have been around forever, but it seems to be popular these days to count up the economic costs of students not earning a high school diploma as a way to support a smorgasbord of educational initiatives. I just got an e-mail from the Alliance for Excellent Education this week with the headline "Nation's dropout rate decreases tax revenue," which somewhat states the obvious.