Lincoln County schools and Brookhaven Academy returned toclasses Monday, with administrators and school officials lookingfor a good year ahead.

Lincoln County Superintendent Terry Brister, beginning his firstfull school year after taking office in January, expectedorganizing and getting children situated in the right classes willtake much of school officials’ time early on.

“That’ll probably be the first week,” Brister said.

Brister expected the central office would receive around 100calls the first two days regarding student placements, bus routesand other questions. In the first few days of classes, he washoping to develop organization and stability for a smooth remainderof the year.

Brookhaven Academy students got a brief head start on classesFriday during orientation. Elementary students had orientationearly Friday morning, while secondary students attended activitieslater in the morning.

“Everything went smoothly,” Headmaster Dr. Miller Hammillsaid.

Hammill said the academy had added some good teachers to analready-strong faculty. Citing the academy’s new status as anonprofit organization, he was hopeful that private fund-raisingefforts would allow the school to develop a long-range master planto add curriculum and improve the physical plant.

Approximately 480 students will attend the academy thisyear.

“We feel we’ve gotten off to a great start, and we’re lookingforward to a good school year,” Hammill said.

Lincoln County school officials are expecting around 2,800students this year.

In a special school board meeting Friday, trustees approved thefour bus drivers for the new year.

The board also ratified the administration’s handling of repairsinvolving district buses that were recalled by the manufacturer.The buses had to be taken to Natchez for the repairs, which weredone earlier this month.

“We weren’t about to start school and have something happen andwe didn’t do it,” Brister said.

Also Friday, administrators wrapped up staff developmentactivities.

“They went great,” Brister said.

Instead of having a districtwide meeting at the Multi-UseFacility, Brister said administrators visited went school to schoolover a two-day period. They visited West Lincoln and Loyd Star onThursday and Enterprise and Bogue Chitto on Friday.

“We felt like they would be more one on one with the teachersand they would be more willing to speak up if they had anyproblems,” Brister said.

Brister said most of the questions involved special educationneeds, and Assistant Superintendent Letha Presley was available tofield those queries. Also on hand were Michelle Ratcliff,curriculum; Cheryl Shelby, business manager; Kenneth Wallace,technology; Bruce Falvey, transportation and vocational director;and Regina East, administrative secretary to thesuperintendent.

“We had a great response from it,” Brister said about theschool-specific meetings.

Despite budget concerns and higher testing standards, Bristersaid teacher morale and enthusiasm remain high.

“I look for a great year,” Brister said.