Natchez-Adams board approves personnel changes, budget amendment and multiple MOUs; authorizes lease talks for workforce program

The Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees on Oct. 21 approved a slate of routine and substantive measures, including personnel recommendations, acceptance of September financial statements, a FY26 budget amendment for exceptional services and several interagency agreements.

Board President Amos James Jr. called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. and the board voted unanimously on each roll-call item. The board approved the personnel report and vacancy list after a motion by Dr. Brenda Robinson and second by LLJuna Grennell Weir.

Business and Finance Manager Timothy Byrd presented the district’s September capital reports, reconciled bank statements, revenue-and-expenditure statements and current budget status. The board voted 4-0 to approve the claims docket and accept the financial documents.

On budget and program items, the board approved an amendment to the FY26 state and local budget for exceptional services and authorized a one-time compensation payment for select IT staff funded from federal programs. The board also re-adopted a workforce development resolution and agreement with the City of Natchez and Adams County that references prior meeting minutes from December 2021.

Several intergovernmental and service agreements were approved: a 2025–26 MOU with Adams County Juvenile Detention Center; a 2025–26 MOU with Canopy Children’s Solutions; and an extension of an agreement to provide child nutrition services to Instant Impact Global Charter School from Nov. 3 to Dec. 19, 2025.

The board approved multiple student-travel requests for band performances and related activities, and granted district facility-use requests for the NAACP at Natchez High School, a private family event at Natchez Middle School, and Visit Natchez at the Washington Property parking area.

On facilities, the board authorized Superintendent Zandra McDonald to work with Tuwanna Williams and district attorney Bruce Kuehnle to identify space at Natchez Option Academy and draft a lease to be presented to the board at a later date for possible use by the City of Natchez Workforce Development Department.

All formal motions recorded in the minutes passed on unanimous 4-0 roll-call votes. The board later entered executive session to discuss possible litigation and personnel matters; no votes or final actions were taken in executive session. The meeting adjourned at 5:16 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Personnel report (passed 4-0); Claims docket/financial statements (passed 4-0); Adams County Juvenile Detention Center policies (passed 4-0); Out-of-state student travel and school facility use requests (passed 4-0); Re-adoption of workforce development resolution (passed 4-0); FY26 budget amendment for exceptional services (passed 4-0); One-time IT compensation (passed 4-0); Extension of child nutrition services agreement (passed 4-0).