With the exception of two teaching positions, the Natchez-Adams School District is staffed for the upcoming school year, Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis said Tuesday.

He also expects to fill the two remaining positions within a few days.

&uot;So we’re going to be in great shape,&uot; he said.

Two other vacancies – one elementary position and one special education position – are currently on hold until the district can determine its final enrollment figures for the 2001-02 school year, Davis said.

All together, the Natchez-Adams School District has hired 47 new certified employees over the summer from a variety of locations and with varying degrees of experience.

Of the new hires, nine are first-time teachers. Five of those teachers were enlisted as student teachers in the district last year, Davis said..

The 47 new employees also have an average of almost 17 years in education.

&uot;These people who come to us will come … with a lot of experience,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said he is pleased with the caliber of the new employees as well as the fact that they come from both Natchez and other locations.

&uot;That makes the school district strong and that makes the community stronger in my opinion,&uot; Davis said.

To assist the new teachers, the district is expanding a mentoring program it began last year.

The expansion is necessary since statistics report that 22 percent of all new teachers leave education in the first three years.

According to the U.S. Department of education, this is because of lack of support to new teachers and a &uot;sink or swim&uot; approach to their profession.

All new teachers will also attend a three-day orientation and will have monthly meetings to discuss whatever topics concern them, Mayo said.

The district is also looking into getting the teachers college credit for the training, Mayo said.