Frazier Primary stands ready to welcome 56 more students &045; and counting &045; than school officials had prepared for this year.

Is there a population boost in Natchez?

Probably not. Most likely it’s that changes in the school system have impressed some parents, and they are now sending their children to public school.

&uot;It means we’re doing something right,&uot; Frazier Principal Lorraine Franklin said.

Natchez-Adams Schools are undergoing major changes this year, with the schools now split among different grades than they have been for more than a decade.

Administrators and teachers have spent weeks getting everything ready, from transporting books and materials across town to shifting teachers to different schools.

The changes don’t come without some headaches &045; the logistics of bus routes alone may cause some confusion, and some parents and students aren’t happy with the early hour at which buses may arrive.

But for the most part we expect this to be a positive change for the school system &045; not only because the changes will ease overcrowding but also because we know that administrators and teachers throughout the Natchez-Adams system are dedicated to helping students succeed.

We’ve always known that education must be one of our chief priorities in this community, not only for the present but for the future.

Education must go hand-in-hand with economic development, and positive changes in the school system &045; from improving the district’s reputation to boosting students’ test scores &045; can only help our entire community as we move into the future.