Board votes to delay release of executive action

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 14, 2001

Following a decision made during Thursday’s board meeting, the public may have to wait 30 days to learn the actions of the Natchez-Adams School Board during future executive sessions.

Instead of coming into open session to vote on executive session matters, the board decided to try another option members say is allowed by the state – keeping the votes private until they become public in no more than 30 days in the official minutes of meeting, said Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis.

&uot;The policy is a state open policy law. It gives you options to do either one,&uot; Davis said. &uot;(The school board) decided to take the other option.&uot;

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Davis admitted it was a different concept but a legitimate choice for the school board.

&uot;To my understanding either way is legal,&uot; he said. &uot;(The school board members) have the legal authority to do it.&uot;

Davis said he was not sure who on the board brought up the issue Thursday.

&uot;I think it was just a general consensus,&uot; he said. Despite the change, Davis said the meetings and information will still be open to the public.

&uot;I think that the public will still know the information … but it won’t come the day (of) the board meeting now,&uot;&160;he said.

In other business Thursday, the board approved requests to name three schools facilities after beloved people in the education community. The board named Natchez Middle School in memory of Natchez educator Robert Lewis, the multipurpose center in memory of school board member Dr. David R. Steckler and the football stadium in memory of Coach Tom Williams.

&uot;I’m just tickled pink over it. I’m elated it was approved,&uot; said Eva Dunkley, who had made a presentation to the board about the stadium’s name. &uot;I’m sure his family will be very proud.&uot;

Davis said he supported the new names even though he had not known all three people personally.

&uot;I’m real pleased with the naming of the buildings,&uot; he said. I think that they were all three great choices and the community should be proud that (these people) will live on for the boys and girls (in Natchez.)&uot;

Also on Thursday, the board put off discussing next year’s budget after coming out of a two hour executive session. Instead, the school board members decided to take copies of the budget with them and recessed until a budget workshop at 4 p.m., Thursday June 21.

Last year the school district had a budget of more than $39 million including all funding sources.