NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to remove the interim from the superintendent’s title.

Fred Butcher agreed to extend his contract as the superintendent of the schools through the 2017-18 school year. The board approved the approximately $126,000 per year contract 4-1, with trustee Benny Wright voting against the decision.

Butcher agreed to be interim superintendent in April making $9,800 per month through Dec. 31 when the contract — eligible for an extension — was set to expire.

Butcher will now be making $10,500 per month starting in October. Board attorney Bruce Kuehnle said the salary was still less than what the former superintendent was making. Butcher will also be eligible for benefits.

Trustee Phillip West said the majority of the board feels Butcher is doing a good job at the helm of the district.

“We appreciate the efforts during the transition period, which was very difficult based on the time you took over,” West said. “I feel like you are moving the district in the right direction, and I appreciate your efforts.

“We look forward to working with you over the next couple of years. Hopefully you get some of the major things on the agenda consummated as we move forward.”

Butcher said the hard work of staff members and teachers made the transition period successful, and he also gave credit to the board for supporting the new ideas.

“We will try to make sure we overturn every stone before we make a decision,” he said.

The newly named superintendent said he was happy to receive the opportunity from the district. Butcher said a number of projects are ongoing and he would like to see them come to fruition, including improving test scores, moving Natchez Early College Academy to the Alcorn State University Natchez Campus and becoming fully staffed with certified teachers.

“I am excited for the opportunity to fulfill some of these projects,” he said. “And I’d also like to thank the parents. Most of the parents we have talked to they have been very cooperative.

“Our parents want to see our district become a successful academic district.”

West said Butcher has also done a good job in working with the board and being patient with the trustees to make sure they fully understood issues. West said he particularly appreciated the patience as a new member.

“It is not your way or the highway,” West said. “And it is not our way or the highway. It is really about teamwork, and I think that is good.”

Trustee Cynthia Smith said she appreciated Butcher coming in and taking care of some major issues, including the staffing concerns. The district began the summer needing to hire more than 60 teachers and was down to nine vacancies at the start of the school year.

“He has made some very good plans and strategies for us to move forward,” Smith said. “He was not just biding time until someone else got here, he took the bull by the horns and I think has done an excellent job.”

Trustee Thelma Newsome said he has done an adequate job.

“He has opened up the school and has carried out everything that was required to be done,” she said. “I have no problems with him.”

Board President Amos James Jr. said morale is up in the district and problems with discipline have improved this school year.

“I think he is doing a great job,” he said. “I think the district is moving in the right direction.”

Wright, who will resign from the board Sept. 30, said his concerns stemmed from a lack of a search to find a better-qualified candidate. “We made no search for a superintendent,” Wright said. “To just settle for someone, to me is denying the students and the community the opportunity to benefit from someone better trained.”

4 Natchez High School plans to require juniors to take the ACT in the spring. The district entered into a $25,8050.50 contract with Kirkland Group to provide ACT professional development to teachers. The group can also provide tutorial sessions for juniors.

4 The district entered into a contract with Southwest Mississippi Educational Consultants to evaluate students for special services. The psychometrist will make $80 per hour and the funds come through federal sources.

Director of Special Services Ruby As-Sabor said this company has provided the service in the past and she is satisfied with them. She said they evaluated 55 students this past year.