WOODVILLE &045;&045; On Monday, participants in a public forum said a unified approach is key to improving employment, education and other quality of life issues in Wilkinson County.

About 30 county residents, including some local elected officials, attended the conference at the Wilkinson County Elementary School Cafeteria.

The gathering was part of a series of 16 town hall meetings sponsored in recent months throughout southwest Mississippi by Alcorn State University’s Cooperative Extension Program.

Speaking for one of five groups formed during the meeting to identify issues, WCES teacher Sharon Boyd said competing public and private school systems make the county less attractive to outside investors.

&uot;The dual school system is a problem. Industry is not going to come into our area because of that,&uot; Boyd said.

Though the two private academies in the county do not discriminate on the basis of race, enrollments at public and private schools have been traditionally divided along racial lines.

WCES principal Colleen Magee said the two school systems should look for ways to work together in the community.

&uot;More interaction among public and private schools is needed,&uot; Magee said.

Some participants said the county also lacks affordable permanent housing.

Magee suggested forming a local Habitat for Humanity chapter to help provide housing.

But Wilkinson County Circuit Clerk Mon Allen said more local residents should utilize existing housing programs.

&uot;We have an abundance of housing, but we’re not taking advantage of it. There’s HUD, Section 8 and FHA housing available,&uot; Allen said.

Others said the county should regulate the location and upkeep of mobile homes and enforce existing laws against dumping and littering.

&uot;We should take pride in what we have. Our appearance is important to companies looking to locate here,&uot; Woodville realtor Justin Senko said.

ASU Extension Program area coordinator Jacquelyn Wright said focus groups will next be formed in each community to study the issues and suggest solutions.