NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School District officials will begin community forums to discuss the district’s building and renovation project at 9 a.m. Monday at the Adams County Board of Supervisors’ meeting.

The district has announced a total of 17 meetings throughout the community from Feb. 6 with the final meeting at 5:30 p.m. on March 9.

The format of the forums will include a presentation by the district followed by an open question-and-answer session. District officials say the goal of the forums is to obtain more community input to help guide the school board toward finalizing a plan.

The district has not confirmed its plans or finalized costs for the project, but Superintendent Fred Butcher has presented a “wish list” scenario that would cost approximately $44.4 million.

The plan would include building a new high school adjacent to the current high school at a cost of approximately $23 million. Once students are moved into the new school, the district would then renovate the current high school at a cost of approximately $17.1 million.

McLaurin Elementary would be renovated at a cost of approximately $1.9 million, West Elementary at $2.9 million and Morgantown Middle School at $2 million.

Frazier Elementary and Robert Lewis Magnet School would be closed and the current high school would become the middle school.

Administrators have said the route would impact student achievement at all levels and also provide synergies between the high school and middle school that could improve academic performance and decrease operating costs.

However, the proposal has received some criticism from two members of the Natchez Board of Aldermen, as the intitial plan would close two schools in north Natchez.

The scheduled times for the discussions are:

•  9 to 9:30 a.m. Feb. 6, at the Board of Supervisors’ board room for all residents.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6, at the Armstrong Library for all residents.4 Noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 8, at the Carriage House Restaurant for Rotary Club of Natchez members and guests.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8, at the Maryland Heights Community Center for residents of the area.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15, at Mount Olive Baptist Church for Sibley and Kingston residents.
• 8 to 9 a.m. Feb. 17, at the Natchez Coffee Shop for the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce’s Friday Forum.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17, at the Broadmoor Community Center for Broadmoor residents.
• 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20, at the Natchez Board of Aldermen’s Board Room for all residents.
• 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24, at Christian Hope Baptist Church for AMB Association pastors.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27, at New Hope/Washington Apartments for all residents.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 1, at the Kenneth Graves Subdivision Community Center for area residents.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 3, at Crosspoint Church Worship Center for all residents.
• Noon to 1 p.m. March 6, at Natchez Children’s Services for all residents.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 6, at Greater St. Mark Church for Sedgefield residents.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 8, at Antioch Baptist Church for LaGrange residents.
• Noon to 1 p.m. March 9, at Rolling River Bistro for Kiwanis members.
• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. March 9, at the Steckler Multipurpose Center for members of Greek-letter organizations.