NATCHEZ &045; The fear that the desired state funding may not make its way to the Natchez-Adams School District spurred a few changes this month in the layoff policy.

Previously the reduction-in-force policy based who stays and who goes on seniority, Human Resources Manager Beverly Raines said.

The new policy revised the reduction-in-force criteria, moving seniority to the bottom of the list and placing the emphasis on the employee’s value to the district.

If layoffs become a necessity, the district will first look at the areas of expertise the teacher has.

If an employee can work with special education students and teach social studies, they become more valuable to the district, Raines said.

Secondly, the district will look at the teacher’s certification level. Those with less certification will be released before teachers with high certification levels.

Finally the district will continue to consider seniority. Raines said they will first look at the number of years of experience in the district, then the total years experience.

&uot;If a reduction-in-force of certified/licensed employees becomes

necessary, the Board of Trustees desires to retain and employŠthe most capable and productive of the qualified employees needed to carry out the approved programs of the school district,&uot; the policy states.

The policy revisions were developed through the human resources office in collaboration with the superintendent and the assistant superintendent.

The school board approved the revisions at last week’s meeting, making them effective immediately.

&uot;If we aren’t funded at the state level we will have to make some cuts,&uot; Raines said.

&uot;This is just in preparation. We won’t know anything until late February or early March.&uot;

If employees are going to be laid off the district has to give them notice by early April.