NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors appointed former Natchez mayor Phillip West to the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees Tuesday.

Voting 3-1 with one abstention, the board selected West after interviewing a list of five candidates nominated earlier this month. District 4 Supervisor Rickey Gray nominated West.

West said he has always been committed to education during his lengthy political career. His late wife and several other family members were teachers or administrators in the district, and several of his children attended local public schools.

“Education in a community directly impacts your economic prospects and potential and the overall safety of the community,” West said during his interview.

West said he has been retired for years, but wants to continue to serve his community.

“When God gives you a talent and an ability to help, you should use it,” West said. “My keen interest has always been the youth of the community.”

West’s mission for the district is to develop an attractive place to raise children and work, so that the highest quality students and families will be interested in coming to Natchez.

“My vision, to put it simply, is: if you build it, they will come,” West said.

For West, that also means improving student approval of their education experience and preparing them for both college and the workplace.

He hopes that graduates of the district will continue to live in the area, and said he believes administrative policy can encourage that.

“About 90 percent of kids said they couldn’t wait to graduate and get the hell out of Natchez,” West said. “When you have that attitude in your students, somebody is not doing this right.”

West said in years past, the school board’s priority was administration, then teachers and then students.

“It should be reversed,” West said. “Students first, and teachers have to be right there with them. Administration should be third.”

Supervisor Gray, District 3 Supervisor Angela Hutchins and District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler voted for West. District 2 Supervisor David Carter voted against.

“I’m not sure political experience is what we need right now in that position,” Carter said of his vote against West’s appointment. “I’d have liked to see someone in the education field with an education background, which he did not have, compared to other candidates.”

District 1 Supervisor Mike Lazarus abstained.

“I wasn’t really satisfied with any of the candidates,” Lazarus said. “I’d have liked to spend more time with them, and maybe bring in more people.”

Lazarus said he has nothing against West’s appointment, but wanted more time to determine his specific qualifications.

Gray said West’s public service gives him credibility, which he sees as vital to West’s new position.

“We have educators (on the board) already. We need someone with leadership and common sense,” Gray said. “You have to have a strong credibility with the community, because if you don’t, they’re not going to vote to do anything.”

West will replace NASD School Board President Tim Blalock, whose term expires Feb. 1.

In other news:

– The board awarded bids for modernizing the elevator unit in the Adams County Sheriff’s Office building.

– The board unanimously agreed to become a work site in the Department of Human Services work placement program.

DHS Director Pamela Steele said the program places able-bodied adults with no dependents in a work-for-benefits program. County offices and departments would serve as a place these clients could work their required hours, which depend on the amount of benefits they receive.

County Administrator Joe Murray said program participants may become permanent employees.

“The whole purpose is to eventually put people to work,” Murray said.

-The board unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing Barney Schoby Jr.’s recent Flat Hat Award given to him for his exceptional service as a park ranger with the National Park Service.

The Flat Hat Award is a recognition from the National Park Traveler’s Club given annually to a National Park Service ranger or volunteer whose service club members have especially noted. The name of the award comes from the style of hats worn by park rangers. Only one award is given nationwide each year.