By Cain Madden

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — In its second work session for the 2016-17 budget preparation period, the Natchez-Adams School District administration laid out its tentative revenues to board members.

Including a projected 1.5-percent decrease in state funding, the administration is projecting $30,014,933 in its local and state budget, a figure that’s approximately $250,000 less than the 2015-16 school year.

Federal funds are projected at $2,758,970, a figure that’s more than $750,000 off of this past year’s budget.

Special education funding is currently projecting to decrease by approximately $140,000 — down to $846,809 — but Superintendent Frederick Hill said he is looking into getting Medicaid reimbursements that the district had not previously attempted to get.

Anticipating more students taking part in the breakfast, lunch and after-school cafeteria programs, the food and nutrition fund is projected to increase by more than $100,000 to approximately $3 million.

“What we have here is a worst-case scenario,” Hill said. “Hopefully, as things go along, it will only get better.”

In March, the board will begin to project personnel costs.

The superintendent has set the goal to continue funding existing initiatives while also finding monetary sources for new ones. Projected costs for initiatives will be outlined in April.

Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously approved applying for a grant to cover the cost for training AP teachers. The school would receive reimbursement of up to $875 per teacher receiving the training no later than Aug. 19, 2016.

The board also unanimously approved the purchase of approximately 10 royal blue Dynasty marching drums at a cost of $11,903. The money is in the band program’s budget.

“So we have got to have royal blue drums?” Board member Amos James Jr. asked.

Board member Thelma Newsome replied, “Most districts do have drums that correlate with their school colors.”