NATCHEZ &045; The folks at Frazier Primary School are making lemonade and being rewarded for it.

The closure of International Paper touched nearly everyone in Adams County in one way or another, but left Frazier with nothing but a basket full of lemons.

From 1989 to 2001 Frazier had only one Partner in Education &045; IP. As part of a program in place in all Natchez-Adams schools and across the country, the partner provided the school with teaching materials, volunteers and money to supplement district, state and federal funds.

&uot;There was no need to recruit additional partners, because International Paper provided all that the school needed,&uot; said Susan Mingee, the school’s librarian and Partners in Education coordinator.

When word of an impending closure started spreading in 2001, Frazier realized what the loss would mean to them and began a serious recruitment of new partners.

By the 2004-2005 school year the school had 17 partners.

It’s the school’s success in making a bad situation into a good one that has earned them the title of Mississippi Association of Partners in Education Governor’s Award Finalist.

Frazier and all 17 partners will compete against schools from Aberdeen, Jackson and West Point for top honors at an April 14 seminar in Jackson.

During first year of partner recruitment, the school started the first church partnership in the district with Lovely Lane United Methodist Church. By then end of 2001-2002 Frazier had eight partners, the church, Natchez Community Hospital, the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce, the Natchez Pediatric Clinic, Boswell Regional Center, Check Masters, Inc. and Johnson Enterprises.

As IP closed, their partnership continued, Mingee said. The mill gave Frazier equipment, furniture and supplies.

When the partner list grew, the school developed an improvement plan, which included using partners to improve behavior, develop a good character program and improve communication skills, Mingee said.

Of the 17 partners, two are former IP employees.

&uot;All of our partners help with community service projects,&uot; Mingee said. &uot;All are guest readers throughout the year and they purchase things we need.&uot;

This year, Natchez Community Hospital has provided first aid kits for the classrooms, partners have donated and matched donations in a food drive for the humane society and helped out in a fundraiser for muscular dystrophy.

In return, each Frazier class makes monthly artwork, banners or arts and crafts for their partners.

In the 200-2005 school year received $1,175 in monetary donations from partners, $7,297 worth of donated items and 202.75 volunteer hours.

Frazier added partner number 18 this year, the Adams County Home Extension Service.