NATCHEZ — The new assistant superintendent of the Natchez-Adams School District is currently waiting on her educational license to be renewed, NASD Superintendent Frederick Hill said. And she has already has met all requirements for renewal, Hill said.

Hill spoke about the matter Monday, following a public comment at a July 5 hearing on the budget.

Hill recommended the board hire Smith, who previously worked with him in the Tupelo Public School District.

Hill said the Mississippi Department of Education is often slow this time of year with license issuance and renewals because of the high number of college graduates applying for a license.

“They’re flooded right now,” Hill said.

Smith has until October to be issued her license renewal, a process that can take six to eight weeks, he said. If Smith’s license is not renewed for any reason, the NASD school board can vote to “non-renew” Smith’s contract and reduce her pay, Hill said.

Smith was hired July 3, approximately a week after former assistant superintendent Morris Stanton submitted his resignation to the board.

Hill said it is a common and legal practice to bring someone in he preferred to work with pending board approval, much like the way his former mentor brought him into the Tupelo schools as an assistant superintendent.

“If I had to do it all over, I’d do the same thing,” Hill said.