The Natchez-Adams School District will begin its monthly meeting of the P16 Council.

The P16 (preschool to higher-ed) Council is a community engagement council started during the 2013-14 school year in which community based organizations, institutions and private individuals work with the school district to improve the quality of the school.

The Mississippi Board of Education Accountability Standards prescribe the council to be comprised of a broad spectrum of the community, including economic developers, elected officials, civic leaders, business leaders, faith-based leaders, social services, nonprofit organizations, school attendance officers, law enforcement officials, health department officials, day care providers, librarians, parents and others with the knowledge and resources that can be leveraged to build strong communities.

Even though the district leadership team will host the meeting, the council will serve as a community-led group that is inclusive, accountable and required to publicly report progress to the community as a whole.

The council is charged with the duty and responsibility to build strong, healthy communities by helping to improve the school. Members of the council will work with the school district administrative team to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses two questions:

What will a strong, healthy community, rooted in a quality public education system, need to look like 10, 15 or 20 years from now?

What do we have to do this year, next year and the years that follow in order to build this process in the right direction?

During the 2013-14 school year, the Natchez-Adams School District created and implemented a P16 Council for the first time. The council was successful in discussing, providing constructive criticism and approving several hot topics and debatable plans the District undertook before implementation. Some of the topics included:

4Restructuring of secondary schools

4Dropout prevention and recovery plans

4Revised discipline plans

4Staff retention

4Schools’ academic performances

4State legislation that impact education

4NASD school board policy

4Other issues / concerns presented by council members.

A good cross-section or representation of the community served as members on the council. Some members included representation from NASD, Board of Aldermen, Board of Supervisors, Natchez Inc., Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Alcorn State University, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Retired Educators Association, AJFC Community Action Agency, religions institutions and private citizens.

The meeting is normally scheduled for the first Monday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Because of the Labor Day holiday falling on the first Monday of September, the first meeting is scheduled for Monday. Starting in October, the meeting will return to the first Monday every month thereafter. The meetings will be located at Braden Administrative Building in room 209, 10 Homochitto St.

This is the perfect opportunity to be informed on the front end about the happenings in the Natchez-Adams School District. The council will play a pertinent role in ensuring the District continues to make the improvements needed in order to build a strong Natchez and Adams County.

If you are interested in serving on the P16 Council or at least having your organization and/or agency represented, please feel free to contact me at 601-445-2800.

 

Frederick Hill is the superintendent of the Natchez-Adams School District.