NATCHEZ — On Thursday, Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris was named 2009 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year.

The distinction came from the Mississippi Association of School Administrators and the American Association of School Superintendents.

Executive Director of the MASA Anna Hurt made the announcement in a special reception for Morris after Thursday’s regular school board meeting.

“He constantly keeps the children at the center of all his decisions,” Hurt said.

And it’s that focus that earned Morris top ranking above every other superintendent in the state.

In February, Morris’ accomplishment will be recognized in San Francisco at the American Association of School Administrators National Conference.

Morris, normally a man of few words, graciously accepted his award.

“This can be a difficult job,” Morris said.

But he said any of the difficulties associated with the job are quickly made better by his family once he gets home.

“They’re my support,” he said.

In other news, the school board adopted a resolution to allow the district’s Director of Athletics Fred Butcher to accept bids for the installation of a new track at Natchez High School.

Butcher said the old track is in such disrepair that the track team can only use it for practice.

Butcher said he can’t remember the last time the high school was able to host a meet due to the track’s condition.

“It’s terrible,” he said.

And while Butcher only just received permission to accept bids, when it comes time to have the new track put in place — the work will be costly.

Butcher estimated the entire project will cost the district approximately $199,000.

Butcher said to resurface the existing track would cost less, but it would likely need to be resurfaced again in the coming years.

“This is something we need to do right the first time,” he said.

As an added bonus, Butcher said the new track could also server as an attraction that could stimulate the local economy.

Butcher said once installed, the track could be used to host weekend-long track meets that would generate money for the entire city.

“People will be coming from out of town, and they’ll be staying in our hotels and eating in our restaurants,” he said.

Butcher said he’s hoping to have the new track ready to go by May.