I read with some interest the article in Friday’s paper regarding Thursday’s school board meeting. What really concerned me was the “not very nice people” quote. I retired from the Natchez-Adams School District after 21 years. Most of these years were spent in the superintendent’s office where my duties included recording and keeping minutes of all school board meetings. The very fact that Mrs. Oliver, Mr. Winn, and their group were given a forum to voice their concerns and the board took time to listen and respond shows to me that they are indeed very nice people.

It was a privilege for me to have worked with this current board as well as the previous boards. These are dedicated people who serve the students and citizens of this county well, often with very little thanks. They are frequently called upon to make difficult decisions regarding student, personnel, financial and educational matters. Sometimes the situation is such that the factors that affect these decisions cannot be made public. When these situations occur, I have seen board members take the heat for these decisions standing together as a board and take it with dignity, courtesy and kindness.

While some may disagree with some decisions — which is their right to do so — please be assured that this board makes their decisions based on what is best for the students of this district, keeping in mind they must also be good stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars. I know that the Natchez-Adams School Board and the Superintendent, Dr. Morris, and his staff are working hard to improve our public schools, and I hope we, as a community, can support these efforts.

Grace Steiner

Natchez resident