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Superintendent: Enrollment dips slightly; safety incidents, AED grant and school renovations reported
Summary
Superintendent Zandra McDonald reported district enrollment of 2,565 (down 59 from last year), 713 students served by Exceptional Services, six safety incidents in the quarter and receipt of an AED grant; the board also recognized student achievements and career‑program developments.
Superintendent Zandra McDonald told the Natchez‑Adams School District Board of Trustees on Nov. 21 that district enrollment stands at 2,565 students, a decline of 59 from the previous school year, and that 713 students are receiving services from the Exceptional Services department.
McDonald provided routine attendance and discipline reports and said an attendance challenge held in September shows the district’s tier process is functioning. She also reported 41 students are identified as homeless and that state or federal guidelines require the district to reserve $25 per homeless student. The minutes show 11 students had been housed at a detention center for at least three days.
Safety & Security Supervisor Melvin Davis presented the quarterly safety report covering June through October 2024 and reported a total of six incidents during that period. Davis thanked the board for the hiring of an additional school resource officer and summarized ongoing security work.
McDonald said the technology department’s security upgrades had already helped contain approximately 1,100 potential threats. She reported the district received an AED grant that will provide an automated external defibrillator for each school, and that renovations at McLaurin and Morgantown elementary schools are progressing.
The superintendent also said federal programs staff are preparing for an audit in April 2025. Career coaches reported several recent student activities, including a new dual‑enrollment welding opportunity with Co‑Lin that enrolled 15 CTE students, culinary programming, voter registration, mock interviews and job‑shadow opportunities with local employers.
During recognition items, Principal Heather Jackson presented a certificate to Natchez Early College student Angelica King for scoring 1,390 on the SAT and holding a 33 superscore on the ACT; Jackson said, “We look forward to more great things.”
The board had no public comments and closed the meeting after entering executive session to discuss possible litigation. The meeting adjourned at 4:51 p.m.
