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ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Business and educational leaders from Southwest Georgia have voiced their concerns about education, healthcare, and project funding during a visit from Democratic senators from across Georgia.

One participant highlighted concerns with school admission rules for children receiving state funding while attending charter schools, arguing that state-funded charter schools could be considered publicly funded schools.

“We’ve got two systems that are receiving public money, whether [the funds] are going to the administration or the school district or the children that are attending the school, are we going to operate all that under one roof is what I want to know.”

Another participant, a South Georgia educator, wanted to know what state leaders could do to retain and hire qualified educators in rural areas that have limited funding.

“How can we eliminate this problem? We are definitely hurting,” the participant said.

The questions were posed during a brunch hosted by the Georgia Democratic Caucus, where state leaders addressed topics including education and healthcare.

The event was organized by District 12 Democratic Senator Freddie Powell Sims. She said the event is meant to bridge the gap between rural and metro parts of Georgia.

Harold Jones, minority leader of the Georgia Senate, said the visit was intentionally planned for the region because rural issues were Georgia issues.

“We wanted to make sure this was our first stop because we think this represents a lot of the things that happen with our rural areas, and the fact of the matter Georgia is really a rural state, and this epitomizes that. We realize that an impact in this area are issues that will impact all of Georgia not only from a rural standpoint to. that’s exactly what we heard in there today.”

The Democratic Caucus toured Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and McLendon’s Farms as part of the visit to rural Georgia. In Total, 10 Georgia Democratic senators participated in the event.

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