Governor Says Lottery Money Must Go To Schools

Friday, April 07, 2006 posted 01:37 AM EDT

DURHAM, N.C. -- Gov. Mike Easley said Thursday that he wouldn't allow state lawmakers to spend revenue from the new state lottery on things other than education.

Speaking at an education summit, Easley said students across North Carolina must be taught skills for the global economy if the state is to compete for jobs in growing industries.

"We have to have a better-skilled graduate from our system," he said.

Thirty percent of students statewide drop out of high school. To reduce that figure, he said, a projected $425 million in lottery revenue this year needs to be added to the education fund and not spent elsewhere.

"Anything below that would be veto bait, and I don’t think this legislature would do that," he said.

Easley already has plans for $5 million of that revenue, saying hiring reading coaches at 100 middle schools across the state would help low-performing high schools.

A Wake County judge has threatened to close dozens of schools statewide because students continually post poor academic results.

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