Natchez-Adams Schools will lose a principal next month.

Evelyn Smith of Morgantown Elementary School will retire as of Dec. 31.

School district officials will hold a meeting this morning with Morgantown staff to discuss the administrative changes at the school, said Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis at Thursday’s school board meeting.

The school board also voted to advertise for bids for the removal or demolition of the horse barns and other structures at the Liberty Park Property.

This step marks the next phase in modifying the Seargent S. Prentiss Drive property into a useful site for the school district.

The school district purchased the 22.59-acre property from the City of Natchez in April.

Until the sale made it illegal, Adams&160;County residents leased space to board horses on the site.

As part of the bid process, the school board wants to see if any local equestrian groups are interested in buying the barns and removing them from the site.

‘The idea is to get some interest generated to see if the people who have spoken (about) it are actually interested in doing it,&uot; said Bruce Kuehnle, school board attorney.

Under state law, the school board must award the project to the highest bidder.

The only exception would be if another governing/state agency took interest in the project.

For example, the Adams&160;County Board of Supervisors could avoid going through the bid process if they desired, Kuehnle said.

The project may include demolition of several barns, the 4-H Pavilion, the arena, arena-lights, some bleachers, the Homemakers Exhibit Building and the Barbecue Pavilion.

The district may later decide to keep the Homemakers and Barbecue Buildings on-site.

&uot;We are going to try to keep those things that are in pretty good shape.&uot;

The district also wants to relocate a portion of the bleachers to the soccer field at McLaurin Elementary School.

In other business the district:

— Announced that Principal Evelyn Smith of Morgantown Elementary will be retiring as of December 31. There will be a meeting Friday morning with Morgantown staff to discuss pending administrative changes at the school.

— Recognized Former Board Member Robert McGee for his research for the Early Learning Program.

&uot;(The children) may not realize all you do, but we appreciate it,&uot;&160;Board President Terry Estes told McGee.

McGee thanked the board and said we all need to work together to educate newborn children.

— Heard a report from Natchez High Band Director Larry Buckley on the success of the band. The band will need more than 25 additional uniforms next year because of expected growth.