NATCHEZ &045; New Natchez-Adams Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Morris has a vision for his students.

That vision includes a positive school climate, instructional leadership and high expectations.

In his first month on the job, Morris sees a number of opportunities ahead &045; as well as challenges.

Morris sees the impact of International Paper’s closure as the biggest challenge of his new administration.

&uot;I can’t help but think about IP closing,&uot; he said. &uot;Finances will be a challenge.&uot;

The school district’s business office is already working on contingency plans, Morris said. The loss of tax revenue &045; estimated at about $1.4 million &045; will not affect the district for another fiscal year, 2004-05.

&uot;We have been bracing for that,&uot; Morris said. &uot;The business department and the school board are in a mode of trying to see what type of cost-cutting measures can be made. Right now, we don’t intend to lay anybody off.&uot;

In the meantime, Morris is hoping that a new industry &045; or several &045; can come to Natchez to offset what the community will lose when IP closes. And he wants the school district to be a part of helping attract new businesses.

&uot;We all have to sit down at the table and find the best strategy to attract business and industry,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re all part of the puzzle as we try as a group to move forward.&uot;

Morris also must cope with a negative perception of public schools among some people in the community. He hopes to use the district’s public relations office to convey his message as well as speak to various community groups about his vision for the school system and about its progress.

&uot;It’s going to take some time to do,&uot; he said.

Morris said he does not have enough background yet to comment on whether the school system will try to be released from a 14-year-old desegregation court order which consolidated schools.

During Dr. Carl Davis’ tenure as superintendent, a community committee came up with a tentative plan for smaller schools in the event that the school district was released from the court order.

Despite the challenges ahead, Morris is excited about the future &045; and he can’t wait for the students to start school this year.

In a vision statement he will share with school district staff next month, Morris lays out his view of public education:

4To have a positive school climate where the students, staff and community communicate a feeling of pride at school and throughout the community.

4To provide instructional leadership that will focus on supervision and evaluation of instruction, curriculum alignment, assessment and evaluation of test data, professional development and communication of school goals to all stakeholders.

4To communicate high expectations related to student achievement by teaching to a mastery, monitoring test data, accommodating different learning styles and parents being encouraged to set high expectations for their children’s achievement through school as they are informed of their children’s progress.

4To frequently monitor the student progress and use data in curriculum planning with collaboration from stakeholders.

4To emphasize academics by recognizing academic activities within the school community as being important and receive the appropriate recognition and allocation of time to teach the needs of all children.

4To communicate and provide the necessary resources for program unity.

4To communicate and provide the necessary resources for instructional effectiveness.

4To communicate the positive home school relations in the district.