In the last decade, North Carolina’s population has increased by about 9%. While Catawba County’s population grew, Alexander County saw a decline in population of more than 700 people.
The Gentry School Board held met May 20 and approved the rehiring of the district's classified staff and placed on their first readings a $1,000 pay raise for teachers and a 50-cents-per-hour (amounting to nearly $1,000 for the year) pay raise for classified staff in the 2022-2023 school year.