NATCHEZ &045; With the first days of the war in Iraq over, the Natchez-Adams School District is back to evaluating on a case-by-case basis whether student groups can make out-of-town trips.

In the first days of the war, a tight rein was kept on in-state as well as out-of-state trips for security reasons, said Interim Superintendent Mary Kate Garvin.

&uot;But we’re back to evaluating them on a case-by-case basis,&uot; Garvin said. &uot;We checked with the Mississippi High School Activities Association, and that’s what (districts) across the state are doing.&uot;

Last week, two out-of-town trips were cancelled &045; a trip to an invitational track meet in Starkville and a Beta Club and student council trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

That was because both destinations were too close to military bases. Starkville is close to Columbus, the site of an Air Force base; Keesler Air Force is located on the coast.

&uot;I can’t see sending children across the state and having something happen and having them away from their parents,&uot; Garvin said. In cases of cancelled trips, she added, &uot;It’s always done for the safety of the child.&uot;

Natchez High track coach Larry Wesley said he and the team’s members understood the necessity of canceling the trip. &uot;At first, we were disappointed, but I won’t say it had a profound effect on the team,&uot; he said. &uot;We understood, and I’m sure the whole system understands, that safety has to come first.&uot;

Most out-of-state trips have been cancelled &045; an Atlanta trip the Natchez High choir had planned to attend, for example. Those will also be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, Garvin said.