Two bills passed by the state House and Senate are at odds over whether to elect or appoint local school boards. But it’s still unclear whether either of the bills, if signed into law, would affect Natchez-Adams’ special school district.

Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill that would set up a five-member board in each district, with all five members elected. However the plan does not change the selection of superintendents.

Meanwhile, the House has already passed a bill that would make all school boards appointed based on supervisors’ districts.

The bills have particular interest for Natchez, which has both an appointed school board and superintendent.

A federal lawsuit filed two years ago to make the board appointed was denied but is in the appeal stages, and legislative efforts in the last two years have failed as well.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen and Adams County Board of Supervisors both went on record supporting an elected school board, but the county’s legislative delegation is divided on the issue.

&uot;I’m not ready to completely politicize our school boards,&uot;&160;said Rep. Andrew Ketchings, R-Natchez. &uot;I&160;think we have a good school board and I’d like to give them the chance to continue.&uot;

Sen. Bob M. Dearing, D-Natchez, said he voted present on Tuesday’s Senate action instead of voting yes or no.

&uot;I didn’t feel like there was enough information on it,&uot; Dearing said. &uot;I think it’s probably something the governor would like to see happen.&uot;

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has encouraged the Legislature to require elections for school boards and have the elected school boards appoint superintendents.

Rep. Philip West, D-Natchez, who tried in 1998 and 1999 to pass local and private legislation to make the board elected, said he hopes the Senate bill can pass in the House. &uot;I’m hopeful it will pass. I really don’t know. I think it has a 50/50 chance of passing,&uot; West said.

West introduced another bill to require all Natchez-Adams School Board members to be elected by supervisory districts. It passed the House 117 to 1 this week.

But whether the bills pass the Legislature and get signed by the governor may be a moot point for Natchez’s special district.

The Natchez Board of Alderman now appoints three school board members and the Adams&160;County Board of Supervisors appoints two without guidelines on which district in which they live. In fact, three of Natchez’s school board members live in the same neighborhood.

Ketchings said the state Attorney General’s office ruled the Legislature cannot change the configuration or method of selection of the Natchez-Adams district, because it was created and agreed upon by the local governments.

&uot;It’s my understanding that that bill wouldn’t affect us,&uot; Ketchings said.

The wording of the Senate bill includes municipal districts and special municipal districts.

West said existing law has always allowed Natchez and Adams County the legal right to change the way its school board is constructed.

The code section &uot;allows Natchez-Adams&160;County to have the school board elected if they choose to do that,&uot; West said.