During the BizTech keynote lunch on Thursday, former North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt and Pharmaceutical Product Development founder Fred Eshelman each stressed the need for funding public education in the Tar Heel state.

University of North Carolina Wilmington Chancellor Gary L. Miller moderated the discussion.

The luncheon topic comes on the heels of more than $400 million in legislative cuts to education, costing educators nearly 14,000 jobs in school districts across the state.

Hunt said the money needs to be restored to ensure the state retains its competitive edge in the ever-changing business world.

“We run the risk in America, in North Carolina, of the quality of education decreasing," Hunt said. “These are our children, and we ought to be willing to pay for it  . . . that’s not unreasonable.”

Hunt, who served as governor from 1977 to 1985 and 1993 to 2001, helped lead North Carolina through 20 years of reform, which included increasing teacher salaries and various forms of standardized accountability.  However, his most notable contribution being his early childhood Smart Start program, which won the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award.

Hunt encouraged business leaders to push local and state leaders for adequate education funding, and to forge partnerships in public schools.  

Eshelman agreed, adding that higher education degrees — and the people who receive them — provide a much needed economic boost to all of North Carolina.

“In 2004, the economic impact education had in North Carolina was $8.9 billion, ” Eshelman said, “There’s a huge return on investment with education.”