G.M., and every other segment of our economy, is desperate for new employees who have basic reading and math skills and are comfortable with technology, dependable, and drug free. The quality of our future workforce is of concern to G.M. and other employers. That is why General Motors recently contributed half a million dollars to put a science and technology program called Galaxy in all of our elementary schools. Our employers understand that the fate of our schools and the vitality of our city are interrelated. Let's give a hand to all of the hard working General Motors personnel, both labor and management, throughout our community.
Tonight begins a new phase of our journey.
I want to thank the Lansing School District, Principal Cordell Henderson and the teachers, students and parents of Hill for hosting our annual State of the City Address. Two years ago, I pledged to make school improvement the number one priority in our City and asked a Blue Ribbon Committee, to create a framework for community action to improve our schools. We interjected the city into the schools because it was clear that our fates are intertwined. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of this committee, led by Michigan State University President Peter McPherson and Lansing Community College President Abel Sykes. Hill is an incubator, a laboratory, for 21st century learning.