JACKSON – The Natchez-Adams School District was granted unitary status today, ending a 14-year-old desegregation court order.

U.S. District Judge William H. Barbour, who delivered the 1989 court order, granted the unitary status, which the Department of Justice had already recommended. “Unitary status” designates that the school district does not use discriminatory practices.

“I am glad it’s over,” Natchez-Adams Superintendent Anthony Morris said. “It’s what we hoped for… It demonstrates that we made a genuine effort to do as we were ordered by the courts.”

Morris said he was anxious about it this morning but expected there would be a ruling today and that the school district would be given unitary status.

Plaintiff Phillip West spoke in favor of lifting the court order.

Fred Middleton, outgoing chairman of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce and a proponent of unitary status, said the decision meant “a new day” for the school district and for the community.

“What was good for 1989 is not necessarily good for 2003,” he said. “This is an opportunity as a community for us to get together and collectively form a plan.”