The Lincoln County School District Board of Trustees took timeMonday to recognize the district’s top teachers and parents and itsretiring educators.

West Lincoln’s Holli Pepper was named Teacher of the Year forthe district. She teaches algebra, geometry and ACT prep.

“I’m very honored,” Pepper said following the presentation atthe district’s main office. “It’s really a reflection of a greatdistrict, school and students.”

While Pepper was the honoree for West Lincoln, other individualschool teachers of the year included Laura Delaune, Loyd Star;Wendy Cawthorn, Bogue Chitto; and Ashlee Britt, Enterprise.

Parents of the Year recognized Monday included Kyle Hux,Enterprise; Regina Poole, Loyd Star; Maria Nottingham, WestLincoln; and Christie Gunther, Bogue Chitto. Gunther, who wasunable to attend Monday’s meeting, was named the district-wideParent of the Year.

Superintendent Terry Brister praised the role that educators andparents play in the success of a school district.

“The strength of any district is a strong faculty and an evenstronger community,” Brister said.

Also honored during last night’s meeting were the district’sretiring educators. Those included West Lincoln’s Les Jordan, 20years, Vickie Royal, 32 years, Robert Wayne Smith, 21 years, andDeanna Watts, 26 years; Enterprise’s Kay Burns, 25 years; and BogueChitto’s Shirley Crosby, 34 years.

In formal business Monday, the school board opted to purchasefour new school buses at a cost of approximately $73,000 each.There were no plans to purchase new buses this year, but a priceincrease next year prompted the move.

“Because the price is going up, it’s going to be better to buythese buses this year than next,” said Business Manager CherylShelby, adding that the funding would come from the district’smaintenance budget.

Brister said new year bus models were arriving with higher pricetags and the district was looking to take advantage of lessexpensive existing inventory.

“If we can buy ones on the lot now, we can get them cheaper,”Brister said.