NATCHEZ — Hungry students in Adams County will have some sustenance to help them through the weekend, one business owner said.

The Natchez-Adams School Board members welcomed Walter Tipton, general manager of the Natchez Convention Center, when the board

met Wednesday.

Tipton said Mayor Darryl Grennell’s economic council saw a need to help undernourished elementary students in the school district. Tipton said they want teachers to help identify the students in a way that retains the anonymity of those in need.

“We feel like it really needs to come through elementary teachers to identify them,” Tipton said. “We don’t want to know who they are. We want them to be able to take home food on Friday to hold them through the weekend.”

Tipton said the convention center and the Natchez Grand Hotel are partnering in the effort and they would seek food distribution companies to help provide shelf-stable foods.

The board voted 5-0 in favor of allowing Tipton to work with elementary teachers who have identified children in need.

In other action, the board unanimously:

* Approved a school recognition program that would distribute up to $1,200 per school to six schools that have shown academic improvement. Monica Anderson, board business and finance manager, said the amount received would be determined based on population and growth in accountability.

* Agreed to have Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Fred Butcher bring two options for separating salary scales for instructors of math, science and social studies.