NATCHEZ — Natchez-Adams School Board members learned at Thursday’s board meeting that it is up to the legislators in Jackson to see that the district receives money from local casinos.

Board member Tim Blalock asked board attorney Bruce Kuehnle about gaming revenues from the proposed casino on Roth Hill and the current Isle of Capri casino for schools following a discussion about cash flow problems.

Kuehnle said in order for the district to receive a cut of the gaming revenues, an amendment must be made to the local-private legislation currently in place regarding gaming revenues.

“(It) will require amendment of legislation for a redistribution or division of those taxes that are collected from existing and prospective (casinos),” Kuehnle said.

Kuehnle said the new casino would not require new local-private legislation.

The current legislation is set up to let the City of Natchez collect 3.2 percent of all gaming revenues and split that total 70-30 with the Adams County Board of Supervisors.

Business Manager Margaret Parson said at the meeting she was hopeful that ad valorem taxes will arrive either today or by next week.

“We’re staying within the budget, but as you know, we’re having cash flow problems right now,” Parson said.

The board decided at its Dec. 15 meeting to borrow from its reserve fund made of interest earned on 16-section land in order to make expenses.

Parson said at last month’s meeting borrowing from the reserve fund would prevent the district from having to take out a tax anticipation loan.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, board member Dr. Benny Wright asked Interim Superintendent Joyce Johnson to enforce the current dress code.

Wright emphasized in a motion that the dress code should be enforced for both students and employees.

Board Member David Troutman asked if it would be appropriate to review the current dress code policy, but other members suggested the policy was not up for review.

The five-member board passed Wright’s motion 4-1, including Troutman’s abstention.

The board approved minutes at Thursday’s meeting of a Dec. 12 specially called meeting in which they discussed plans for the Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center to be built at Robert Lewis Middle School.

According to the minutes, board members discovered that the lease the district was to sign with the health center at Robert Lewis contained no “out” clause.

Blalock apparently suggested the district add an ending clause to the lease, quoting several examples about problems that can occur with open-ended agreements.

The board agreed 4-0 to have Kuehnle review the lease and add an ending clause with an option to extend it.

Shirley Ellis-Stampley, the executive director of Jefferson Comprehensive Health Center, said the health center would “bear the brunt” of the renovation expenses, according to minutes.

Board members and Johnson asked Johnny Waycaster, the architect from Waycaster and Associates who was contracted for the health center, about reversing the renovations after the health center’s grant ends.

Ellis-Stampley said the space would revert back to the district when the grant ends.

Waycaster said the district would not be able to convert the space back to the way it was before the renovation when the grant ends.

Waycaster said there is nothing being put in place at the health center at Robert Lewis that cannot be easily removed to leave a big, open room.