NATCHEZ — With a 4-2 vote, the Natchez Board of Aldermen reappointed Thelma Newsome Thursday to serve on the Natchez-Adams School Board of Trustees.

The board discussed the upcoming vacancy on the school board at a special call meeting Thursday. The current term for Newsome, who has served on the board for 10 years, expired Feb. 28.

At a meeting last week, Mayor Darryl Grennell told the aldermen that Newsome’s term was expiring. Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis suggested the city allow anyone interested in serving to submit applications for the appointment.

Following the meeting, Newsome said that she had been asked by city officials to not continue serving on the school board.

When the matter was brought up at Thursday’s meeting, Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Irving said she had spoken to Newsome about being reappointed.

“Mrs. Newsome has stressed that she has remained interested in serving,” Irving said. “She would like to see us renew her contract.”

Arceneaux-Mathis said she wanted to see the board follow through with its initial decision to take applications for the two-week period Grennell had outlined. After that period, Arceneaux-Mathis said, the board could then make a decision about the appointment.

“I think it’s wonderful Mrs. Newsome wants to (continue serving),” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “She hasn’t said anything to me. … I’m glad she talked to her alderwoman. … But this is a board appointment.”

Irving said the board already had someone with experience who wanted to continue to serve in Newsome.

“I’m speaking on the character of the individual, not as her alderwoman, but as someone who knows her and (that) she has been very sincere in working (toward better education) for our kids,” Irving said.

“I think at this point, we don’t need to fix what’s not broken. I think we need to remain as is. I think we need to make a vote on it tonight.”

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith said it appears the school board will eventually go toward being elected, and emphasized that Newsome was not “ousted” by the board of aldermen as a whole.

Irving made a motion to reappoint Newsome, and during discussion, Arceneaux-Mathis asked if the mayor had received a letter from Newsome stating her interest in being reappointed.

Grennell said he had not received a letter, but Newsome called Thursday to say she was interested in serving.

The reappointment motion passed, with Arceneaux-Mathis and Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier voting against the appointment.