NATCHEZ — During a meeting with the Mississippi Department of Education for failing school districts earlier this month in Jackson, the Natchez-Adams School District superintendent told state officials Natchez would not be returning next year.

Superintendent Fred Butcher, other administrators, principals from four schools and school board member Phillip West attended the meeting. Butcher said the district has implemented initiatives he believes will lead to improved results.

“Those initiatives include bi-weekly data analysis and goal setting with each school,” Butcher said. “School administrators in conjunction with leadership teams and teachers are monitoring student progress, adjusting instruction based on assessment results, working collaboratively with teacher leaders throughout the district to align instruction and providing students with differentiated interventions.

“These are research-based strategies proven to be effective in turning around low-performing schools.”

Schools in the district that received an F rating have been designated as schools at risk. The purpose of the meeting is for the MDE Office of School Improvement to conduct needs assessment interviews with school- and district-level leadership.

“During this interview process, each administrator shared demographic information about their respective campuses and an analysis of the school’s strengths and challenges based on analysis of the school’s data,” Butcher said. “Additionally, administrators were afforded an opportunity to discuss with MDE representatives about ways in which the state department could support the school in improving student achievement and its accountability rating.”

Six schools failed in the district during the 2015-16 school year. They are: Natchez High School, Natchez Freshman Academy, Morgantown College Prep Academy, Morgantown Leadership Academy, Morgantown Arts Academy and Susie B. West Elementary School.

Morgantown College Prep and Leadership academies have since merged and Natchez High School leadership was not present at the meeting.

West said the principals did an outstanding job presenting on problems and shortcomings in their schools, and also outlining how to overcome those shortcomings.

More than that, West said he believed the MDE committee was receptive to the information.

“One of the comments made by one of the questioners was, ‘We really appreciate y’all being so honest,’” West said. “That to me is a complement to the administrative staff.”

West said he was also happy to see Butcher have the confidence to tell state education officals that the Natchez-Adams district would not be back next year.

“Whether we are back there next year or not, he has the kind of confidence in what is going on and the efforts of the teachers and other people in the administration,” West said. “He feels very confident we are going to be improving between now and the next time these kind of things take place.”

Butcher said representatives with the state education department are expected to send the district a written communication between mid-January and early February detailing the support — virtual or on campus — the state will provide. Butcher said he hoped it would be in January.

“If you get it on Feb. 15, my concern is you’ve only got 45 days and testing starts,” Butcher said. “Luckily, we have already put some things in place.”

Butcher said the district is getting ready for testing season.

“We know our situation. (MDE) know(s) our situation,” he said. “We have been working and working to improve our academic standards. Before you can do anything, you have to have confidence in what you are doing and have confidence in the people you are working with that you can make it better.”