Public education is an interesting animal anywhere in the country, but especially in Natchez.

Counted among the largest school districts in the state, the Natchez-Adams School District is not only interesting, it’s large, too.

The larger the animal the more difficult it can be to control or change.

And certainly the school district is no exception.

Changes come slow and with much work.

Changes are marked not in hours or days, but in years.

Yet changes are happening in the district, changes of improvement.

Scores from the 2007 ACT exam for the district showed good improvement over the previous year.

That’s amazing news for the district and for our community.

Our community’s future relies, in large part, on the success of turning around the public education system here.

Becoming a leader in the state isn’t out of the realm of possibility. But for now, continued, steady growth is where we need to focus our time and attention.

The recent test scores show the district is headed in the right direction.

With the help of parents, students, educators and community leaders — all pushing in the same direction — the district can continue to improve.

The next step will be matching the state averages, then soon after surpassing those averages.

Each of those milestones will come slowly at first, but the momentum will begin building and in no time those goals can be achieved.