Tension had a seat at the table Monday night; it seemed nearly every invited guest had brought it along for the show.

Representatives from five groups attended the meeting that was two years in the making — two going on 22, that is.

And though tension never left entirely, it did finally give way to open discussion.

It was a discussion several at the table confirmed had never happened before, but all agreed was needed.

How do we improve our public schools?

The Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee — the group that organized Monday’s powwow — began asking that question in June 2009 with the help of an education consultant provided through Mississippi State University.

Members of the school board and employees of the Natchez-Adams School District have asked that question for decades.

Neither group proclaims to have all the answers.

But both groups believe that with support from the community and the local leaders invited to the table Monday — elected city and county officials and appointed economic development leaders — a plan can be formulated.

Educators at the table were the first to say that the community expects a better product from the schools.

Business people at the table acknowledged that a better product likely wouldn’t come without more community support.

Both sides seemed ready and willing to forget the tension and meet in the middle to rally the community.

Then Dr. Benny Wright, a school board member, made a good point.

What if the community speaks and leadership doesn’t listen?

Wright used the idea of a proposed recreation complex to make his point, saying that almost 80 percent of voters said they wanted to see a $5.4 million recreation complex. Yet, two years after the fact, progress to break ground on such a complex seems to be stalling at the hands of elected officials.

The room went quiet. Everyone, included elected leaders at the table, knew he had a point.

In recent years it seems like forward progress in Natchez has meant working around elected leadership and around a sizeable heap of negativity. It certainly slows the process and increases frustration for those who are doers.

But there is an answer to Wright’s concern — stick-to-itiveness.

If the public speaks and elected leaders don’t listen, well, the public keeps talking, pushing, demanding and eventually speaking its mind at the polls.

If anyone in our community cares about the future of Natchez they must become a supporter of the Natchez public schools. It’s that simple.

And if enough of those who care agree to be persistent and speak loudly, change can come.

Monday’s group agreed to meet again in a month to flesh out short-term goals — including a community workday to paint a few rooms in local schools.

It’s not the long-term answer.

It is a start.

Only the positive people will participate in future discussions and work days.

But that’s fine. They are the only ones who matter.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.