NATCHEZ — Nearly 100 residents — including teachers, parents and students — walked up and down the sidewalk outside the district’s administrative building Monday chanting, “Hill must go.”

The calls were referring to Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Frederick Hill, who the organizer of the protest said has “torn up” the school district.

“We’re here because we, as a community, want to be a voice for action for change in our schools,” said Amos James Jr., a Natchez resident who is spearheading a petition for school improvements. “Dr. Hill has torn up the Natchez school system, and it’s time for change.”

James said changes to administrative and teacher positions throughout the district this year, as well as other actions, led to the protest in front of Braden Administrative building Monday afternoon.

The petition calls for the removal of Hill, deputy superintendent Tanisha Smith, assistant superintendent Rhonda Prunty and all the members of the NASD Board of Trustees.

James said the goals behind the petition include improving academic achievement, creating safe and orderly schools and ensuring proper and appropriate use of taxpayer funds.

“The changes being made to the school district affect everyone, because we’re all taxpayers,” James said. “That’s why we’re asking everyone in the community to come together and sign these petitions.”

Petitions were being passed around at the protest Monday, where the group of residents walked on the sidewalk in front of Braden chanting and holding signs emblazoned with “A voice for change” and “We want justice.”

Terri McGruder, who is a parent of a child in the school district, was among the crowd of protesters and said changes being made throughout the district are impacting the students.

“You have some teachers being swapped around so much to different classrooms that these students have had five to six teachers throughout the entire year,” McGruder said. “These are all small problems that are adding up to a big problem throughout the district.”

McGruder said the protest was also a result of voices of parents, teachers and students not being heard by the administrators at Braden.

“When you feel like you can’t sit down at the table and have a discussion about what’s going on, that’s when this becomes necessary,” McGruder said, pointing to the protesters walking on the sidewalk. “We want our voices to be heard.”

Natchez National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President the Rev. Clifton Marvel was collecting signatures on petitions Monday during the protest saying he was glad to see a diverse group of residents gathered together for a unified cause.

“I’m just glad all these community members saw the need for this,” Marvel said. “The NAACP has endorsed similar actions against Dr. Hill and the school board, so we are in support of what this group is attempting to do.”