NATCHEZ — Bringing the community together in one-body can work wonders, especially for area public schools. That’s the message the P16 Council is hoping to spread throughout Natchez.

The P16 Council is a community that aims to encourage community involvement, parental communication and business partnerships within the Natchez-Adams School District’s.

The P16 Council is in the early goings of their second year, and Chairperson Teresa Busby, along with her fellow members, look to enhance the public education system in Natchez.

“The council is charged with the responsibility to build strong and healthy communities,” Busby said. “In order to do that, we are charged with helping create a quality public education delivered to students in healthy schools, which are accessible to all children, regardless of race, class, status, gender or disability.

Busby said the P16 Council is a good way for the community to join and express their concerns for public school education.

The P16 Council is an independent body. Members of the council report to the Natchez-Adams County School District board and superintendent Frederick Hill, while giving regular reports to the community.

“We’re here to facilitate positive communication between stakeholders to the supervisor of education,” Busby said.

Busby hopes to engage families and community stakeholders in promoting pride in public schools and the community, while facilitating effective communication between the community and the school district.

Thus far, the council has assisted Hill with plans on reconstructing secondary schools, working on dropout recovery plans and reviewing disciplinary plans.

Busby said members of the P16 Council should include members of local community-based organizations, student council members, community leaders, public officials, business owners, community members who are interested in public education issues and members of the school district.

“It’s open to everyone,” Busby said.

Busby and the council are working to develop working committees, which will work to develop public schools, such as the youth committee and public relations committee.

“The youth committee will focus on helping young students,” Busby said. “The public relations committee will work to promote the good things that’s going on within public schools.”

The P16 Council will meet at 5:30 a.m. Monday at Braden School on 10 Homochitto St. in room 209, upstairs in the conference room.