Persistent rumors circulating among teachers, parents andstudents that certain school programs may be eliminated or seefunding cuts make for good discussion but should not be taken asfact, Brookhaven district officials said.

“I think it’s a legitimate thing for all of us to talk about thewhat ifs,” Superintendent Lea Barrett said, “but at this time wedon’t know for certain what steps will be taken until we get ourbudget.”

If students have come home and told their parents that someclasses are in jeopardy for the next school year, “that’s just pureconjecture,” Barrett said. “We’re just holding tight. We’re noteliminating anything yet.”

Lincoln County School District Superintendent Terry Brister saidpotential cuts are not a matter discussed outside of planningsessions.

“We don’t discuss it because we don’t know ourselves,” hesaid.

Talking with students about schools’ budget and curriculumchoices can be good, Barrett said, because it creates studentinterest in the governmental budget process and the welfare of thedistrict. But it’s possible such frank conversations could havebeen misunderstood, she added.

“It would be hard for me to say without being there or knowingwhat and how the matter was discussed,” she said. “I’m unaware ofany teacher expressing concerns over their programs with theirstudents.”

Barrett added that the potential for eliminating classes may notbe something students should be burdened with just yet.

“I think it’s a matter that should probably only be discussedamong adults at this point,” she said, “whether that’s betweenparents and administrators or teachers, because nothing is finalyet.”

Brister agreed.

“I hope none of the teachers are (discussing programeliminations with the students) because we don’t know ourselveswhat will be occurring. I don’t believe they are,” he said.

Barrett said it is likely the districts won’t know about theirbudgets for next year until mid-May, when Gov. Haley Barbour isexpected to call a special session in which legislators willdetermine the state budget.

Thus far, Barrett said, the district has not terminated anyteachers. However, some teachers who retired or moved away have notbeen replaced.

The county school district has done the same, Brister said.

It may be those programs for which teachers have not beenreplaced that are sparking the conversations, Barrett said.

For example, she said, the physical education teacher atBrookhaven Elementary is leaving the district and that position hasnot been filled for next year.

The state mandates that schools have a PE program but does notmandate that the teacher be licensed in PE. Therefore, the PEprogram could be led by another teacher.

“I can freeze that (position). That’s something we don’t have tomake a decision on right now. I can wait on the budget to make thatdecision,” she said.

Other programs are in similar situations, Barrett said.