A $34 million budget for the new year and school board line redistricting won approval during a special meeting of the Lincoln County School Board Thursday night.

     Board members approved the budget, which was proposed at a June 18 public hearing. The budget anticipates no increase in the local property tax levy.

     Lincoln County Schools Superintendent Terry Brister said he was more than satisfied with the budget.

     “I’m especially pleased that in this day and time our board has been able to approve a quality budget that ensures we will continue to be financially sound,” Brister said.

     The board also approved the redistricting plan Thursday night.

     The main changes occur in the districts of board members Kay Coon, Ricky Welch and Jack Case in the southern part of the county. The changes are for voting districts only and will not have any impact on where students attend school.

     Changes include Welch’s District Three moving into what used to be Coon’s District One’s northwest corner. Coon’s district loses some land southeast of Brookhaven that Welch’s district takes, but then Coon’s moves farther west.

     Districts five and two in northern Lincoln County experienced the least change as there are no noticeable changes on the map.

     Brister said he felt the changes were minimal, which was good.

     “I’m pleased with the new map because it has very little change,” he said.

     Also Thursday, the board voted to accept a bid on construction for new gymnasiums at Bogue Chitto and Enterprise attendance centers.

     Brister said the winning bid came in at $5.3 million for the gyms, which he said was $1 million less than the initial bid they were given. Paul Jackson and Son Construction will be handling the work.

     At Enterprise, the old gym will be turned into a cafeteria once the new gym is built.

     “The current cafeteria is very old and outdated,” he said. “The classrooms on the wing attached to the cafeteria have mold and mildew in them.”

     Brister said people should not be alarmed about the state of the classrooms, as classes have not been taught in them for two years.

     The current gym at Enterprise was built in either the 1970s or ’80s.

     “We would have had to built an entirely new cafeteria there had we not gone with this plan,” he said. “We’re trying to make the most of what we have.”

     Brister also said new parking is on the way at Enterprise, but that Loyd Star, Enterprise and Bogue Chitto all need improved parking. He said the parking situation is in better shape at West Lincoln as the school board has done some work on theirs in recent years.

     The board’s next meeting is scheduled for July 2.