Natchez-Adams board approves contracts, MOAs, student travel and software purchase; delegates two discipline appeals to superintendent

The Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a slate of agreements and administrative actions affecting student services, technology and facilities and authorized the superintendent to decide two student-discipline appeals after an executive session.

Board President Amos James, Jr. presided over the meeting. Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the printed agenda and to approve several consent and action items, including acceptance of October financial statements and claims dockets presented by Timothy Byrd, Business & Finance Manager; personnel recommendations; and procurement and partnership agreements discussed during the meeting.

Superintendent Zandra McDonald recognized the board’s selection as a Mississippi School Boards Association Board of Merit and reported district operational updates, including progress on ARP ESSER reimbursement work, ongoing issues with a local vendor-supplied camera system for which new quotes are being sought, and confirmation that vape sensors are fully operational. McDonald proposed holding the 2026 graduation ceremony in the high-school gym with 10 tickets per graduate; Vice President Phillip West urged timely community communication about the change, and Assistant Superintendent Ernest “Tony” Fields said the ceremony will be livestreamed.

Key approvals

- A consultant services agreement with Illumination Prep, LLC for ACT preparation and student remediation was approved (motion by Dr. C. Dianne Bunch, second by Dr. Brenda Robinson; vote 5-0). - A memorandum of understanding with Alcorn State University to implement the Positive Action evidence-based primary-prevention program for 2025–26 was approved (motion by Dr. Brenda Robinson, second by Phillip West); Secretary LLJuna Grennell Weir recorded an abstention; the measure carried with one abstention. - The district approved purchase of the MajorClarity institutional platform (recorded as Major Clarity (PAPER)); motion by Dr. C. Dianne Bunch, second by LLJuna Grennell Weir; vote 5-0. - Memoranda of agreement with Jefferson Comprehensive to operate school-based clinics at McLaurin Elementary, Morgantown Elementary and Natchez Middle School were approved, and the board approved allowing C-Spire access to school property to support those clinics (motion by Dr. Brenda Robinson, second by Dr. C. Dianne Bunch; vote 5-0). - The board approved overnight student travel for Natchez Early College Beta to Biloxi and granted several facility-use requests for school cafeterias (motion by Dr. Brenda Robinson, second by LLJuna Grennell Weir; vote 5-0). - Trustees authorized the board attorney to enter into lease negotiations for workforce-development space at Natchez Options Academy and directed the attorney to develop formal resolutions for proposed facility name changes; both actions were approved unanimously and the attorney will return with formal documents at a future meeting.

Student-exchange trip approved

Heather Jackson, principal of Natchez Early College, presented a proposal for an international student-exchange opportunity in Ghana for eight students. The board approved student participation, the student-selection process and associated fundraising activities. The district record notes the total trip cost will exceed $28,000; fundraisers will be used to offset expenses for participating students.

Executive session and discipline delegation

The board entered executive session to discuss student-discipline appeals, possible litigation and personnel matters. After the closed session the trustees voted to allow Superintendent Zandra McDonald to make decisions on two specific discipline appeals identified in the record; both delegations were approved unanimously.

What’s next

The board changed its scheduled December meeting time to 11:30 a.m. Attorney Bruce Kuehnle will draft resolutions for facility-name changes (including renaming of the NHS track and rebranding of Natchez Options Academy) and present them at a future meeting. The district will proceed with fundraising and selection steps for the Ghana trip and continue work on camera-system replacements and ARP ESSER reimbursements.

Votes at a glance: a summary of formal actions approved (motion mover/second; board vote)

- Adopt agenda: Dr. C. Dianne Bunch / LLJuna Grennell Weir; 5-0. - Approve October minutes: Dr. Brenda Robinson / Phillip West; 5-0. - Approve consent items (7.1–7.7): Dr. Brenda Robinson / LLJuna Grennell Weir; 5-0. - Approve personnel report: Dr. Brenda Robinson / LLJuna Grennell Weir; 5-0. - Accept claims docket and financial statements: LLJuna Grennell Weir / Phillip West; 5-0. - Approve ACT-prep contract (Illumination Prep, LLC): Dr. C. Dianne Bunch / Dr. Brenda Robinson; 5-0. - Approve Alcorn MOU (Positive Action): Dr. Brenda Robinson / Phillip West; 4-0 (1 abstention). - Approve MajorClarity purchase: Dr. C. Dianne Bunch / LLJuna Grennell Weir; 5-0. - Approve MOAs for school-based clinics and C-Spire access: Dr. Brenda Robinson / Dr. C. Dianne Bunch; 5-0. - Authorize lease negotiations for workforce development space: Dr. Brenda Robinson / LLJuna Grennell Weir; 5-0. - Direct attorney to draft facility-name-change resolutions: Phillip West / Dr. Brenda Robinson; 5-0. - Delegate two student-discipline appeal decisions to the superintendent: Phillip West / Dr. Brenda Robinson; 5-0.

The board adjourned at 6:08 p.m.