The Educational Facility Plan for K-6 Advisory Committee recommends the following plan for reconfiguration of elementary schools to the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees. Also, offered for consideration is a suggestion for middle school configuration. The intent of these plans is to ease current overcrowding at elementary schools and the middle schools. It is our desire to create the best possible environment for all elementary and middle school students in the Natchez-Adams School District.

Elementary Schools

*3 schools to house Kindergarten through third grade students: West Elementary, Frazier Elementary, and Morgantown Elementary.

Rationale

*These buildings already are properties of the school district and eliminate the need to purchase or build other properties for kindergarten through third grade.

*This grade level configuration would create a learning community made up of students of like ages and similiar interests.

*This grade level configuration would allow grouping kindergarten through third grade in a building, without the presence of other higher grade levels. Teachers would be able to focus more intensively on the developmental needs of the primary students. This would enhance each teacher’s ability to provide continuity in teaching skills to advance from one grade level to the next.

*This grade level configuration would reduce contact with older students whose behavior might become a negative influence on individual development of their personalities.

*This grade level configuration would allow each school’s library to focus only on kindergarten through third, thereby increasing the number of volumes, kinds of audio visual equipment, computers, softwares, and other library materials.

*Administrators would be able to focus more keenly on managing the educational programs for kindergarten through third grade in their school and addressing other needs of students, teachers, and staff.

*2 schools to house fourth through sixth grade:

New School No. 1: Northern Adams County

New School No. 2: Southern Adams County

Rationale

*The construction of two new schools would reduce current overcrowding at elementary schools and create the best possible environment for all elementary students in the Natchez-Adams School District.

*This grade level configuration would create a learning community made up of students of like ages and similar interest.

*This grade level configuration would allow grouping fourth through sixth grade in a building, without the presence of other lower grade levels. Teachers would be able to focus more intensively on the developmental needs of the upper elementary students. This would advance from one grade level to the next.

*This grade level configuration would allow each school’s library to focus only on fourth through sixth, thereby increasing the number of volumes, kinds of audio visual equipment, computers, software, and other library materials.

*Administrators would be able to focus more keenly on managing the educational programs for fourth through sixth grade in their school and addressing other needs of students, teachers, and staff.

*The construction of two new fourth through sixth grade schools would give every child attending public school that is not beyond sixth grade by completion of construction the opportunity to attend a new school. This could create support for the overall plan for reconfiguration and new school construction.

Middle Schools

*2 schools to house seventh and eighth grade: Natchez Middle School and McLaurin

Rationale

*The creation of two schools for seventh and eighth grade would reduce overcrowding and the many problems associated with overcrowding for students averaging 12 to 14 years old.

*The perception of intense daily violences at the current middle school because of overcrowding could be minimized.

*Two middle schools offer all students at seventh and eighth grade level a better opportunity for leadership roles and participation in student activities, such as band, choir, clubs, sports, etc.

High School

*1 school to house ninth through twelfth grade: Natchez High School

Rationale

*Reconfiguration of high school was not included in the scope of this advisory committee.

The mission of the Natchez-Adams School District is to provide a safe, orderly learning environment where students can acquire and apply knowledge to become life-long learners who are productive and responsible citizens able to compete within a global economy.

The Board of Trustees of the Natchez-Adams School District has the responsiblity, on behalf of the public, to determine the goals of the school district. In discharging the responsiblity, the Board has addressed four primary areas:&160;(1)instruction, (2)staffing, (3)school climate, and (4)operations.

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