NATCHEZ — A Natchez-Adams School Board member whose term expires at the end of the month said Thursday she was asked to not continue serving.

Natchez-Adams School Board Secretary Thelma Newsome, who has served on the board for 10 years, said she would have liked to continue to serve the district, but the Natchez mayor and Board of Aldermen did not want her back.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed serving,” Newsome said. “I hope in some small way, I have made a positive contribution to the students in the Natchez-Adams School District.”

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said Thursday that during Tuesday’s meeting he brought the issue before the board that Newsome’s term would expire on Feb. 28, When he brought the issue up, Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis suggested anyone with an interest in serving on the board should submit a resume.

Grennell said the aldermen could have reappointed Newsome at the meeting, if they had so desired.

“I am happy with Mrs. Newsome,” Grennell said. “I think she has experience on the board, and with the things going on there, it might be good to maintain constancy there. But the board has to vote on it.”

Arceneaux-Mathis said Thursday she would not share her feelings on Newsome, but that Newsome, along with whoever else is interested in applying for the position, is welcome.

“What Joyce feels, since we have started a process that we asked for resumes or applications, we should follow that process every time,” she said. “If (Newsome) is interested, she should reapply.”

Arceneaux-Mathis has publicly expressed her dislike for a tentative building plan that Newsome and other school board members are considering. The building proposal calls for two schools to be closed on the north side of town, and Arceneaux-Mathis has said she will oppose any plan closing those schools.

Since the board has recently asked for resumes for the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission and also for the school board when Benny Wright resigned, Arceneaux-Mathis said the board should continue that policy going forward.

Over the next couple of weeks, Grennell said, interested parties should drop off resumes at the mayor’s office located at City Hall on Pearl Street.

The board hopes to havean appointee selected by March.

“They have a lot going on,” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “I hope we have someone by early March.”