School reopenings. Masks. Jobs. What GA’s lieutenant governor said at Robins AFB.
Georgia’s lieutenant governor visited Robins Air Force Base on Thursday to give an update on the coronavirus outbreak and economic recovery.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan toured the base with Georgia State Senator Larry Walker before meeting at the Museum of Aviation to give the update.
“I know this is Georgia. We are resilient here, and we have faced our fair share of challenges over the years. I’m certain that this is a great place to raise your family. It’s a great place to run your business, and that will continue to be the case here in Georgia as we work our way through this crisis with COVID,” Duncan said.
“Certainly, we’re not done with it. I wish I could just snap my fingers and sprinkle some magic pixie dust and make it disappear, but until the scientists and epidemiologists and all the pharmaceutical companies can create the right vaccine, we’re going to be faced with it,” Duncan said.
Duncan spoke of the importance of getting children back in the classroom this fall and said Middle Georgia needs a steady flow of talent into the work force to employ the base and other industries.
“We’re not interested in jamming square pegs through round holes. We’re interested in trying to reshape those pegs and making sure that we arm teachers and classrooms with the opportunities to educate and keep those kids safe and offer the opportunities for virtual or online learning in those special circumstances, so certainly we’re paying attention to the data, but grateful for those folks here in Middle Georgia that are wearing their masks,” Duncan said.
Duncan said an overwhelming majority of Georgians are wearing masks and understand the importance of social distancing although Georgia’s cases of the COVID-19 virus continue to increase.
The Georgia State Senate and House voted back in June to approve a budget that cut k-12 school funding by $950 million to meet the expected decline in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.
“It’s been really encouraging to talk to teachers and faculty members and superintendents and principals all over the state to see how creative they’ve become to continue to work as hard as they can to keep the teachers gainfully employed, and it be as minimal disruption in the classroom as possible. Certainly, it’s going to be felt, but we’re in the midst of unprecedented times,” Duncan said.