West: School plan not enough for students

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 4, 2000

At a public forum Thursday, an irate state Rep. Phillip West said a controversial plan to reduce elementary school size in Natchez is not enough.

&uot;We need something better for our kids’ (education) than what’s being proposed tonight,&uot; West said.

West and more than 150 people attended the forum. And in what turned into a brief shouting match, West argued school size is not as important as classroom size and said the district needs to pay more attention to the high school, not just elementary schools. &uot;We are not as committed to the children of the community as we ought to be,&uot; he said.

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The district’s plan proposes reopening Braden School as a kindergarten through sixth-grade elementary school and converting the district’s two primary schools and two upper elementary schools into K-6 schools. The plan requires federal court approval because of a 1988 consolidation lawsuit filed by six local residents, including West. A court order resulting from that lawsuit forced the school system to operate only the schools now open.

At least two people in the crowd asked West what his plan would be to improve the school district. &uot;I want all of our children to have a better situation,&uot; West said. &uot;I believe the school district ought to involve people in the community who are concerned with education.&uot;

Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis said he thought the forum served its purpose.

&uot;The purpose was to to expose the public to the plan,&uot; Davis said. &uot;We did that.&uot;

Some in the crowd agreed with the plan, while others want more information.

&uot;The plan your trying to initiate is beautiful,&uot; said Margaret Minor, center manager for the Head Start Program. &uot;Let’s push this through. It’s definitely needed.&uot;

Natchez resident Michael Winn said he wants more information. &uot;I’m concerned as a taxpayer and a a parent because I have not had the opportunity to have any input into this plan,&uot; he said.

After the forum, school lawsuit plaintiff George Harden said the district should bring the matter back before to court.

&uot;If they really want to do something with the Natchez-Adams County School District why not go back to Judge Barbour,&uot;&160;he said.