The Brookhaven School Board recognizedSarah Sproles Foster as the recipient of its annual district-wideParent of the Year Award Tuesday.

    “Sarah is a familiar face to us,” said Carl Aycock, president ofthe school board, about Foster, who has won the parent award atmultiple individual schools within the Brookhaven SchoolDistrict.

    Despite the school-level awards, Foster was surprised and excitedby the latest recognition of her involvement.

    “I was so excited,” Foster said. “This was the first time to winthe award for the whole district.”

    This previous school year, Foster served as president of theParent-Teacher Association at Lipsey Middle School and president ofthe Athletic Booster Club at Alexander Junior High.

    Through those positions, Foster has been heavily involved infundraising efforts. She said she has also always made a point tovolunteer with the Mississippi Scholars presentations.

    In the upcoming year, Foster hopes to begin fundraising efforts torenovate the  baseballfield house. To that end, she will assist with the addition of anew fundraising event: a raffle.

    “This is the first year they let us do a raffle,” Foster said. “Ihope to raise enough to make the field house nice.”

    Foster has two children, Wil, who is about to begin 10th grade, andMeg, who is about to begin fourth grade. She has volunteered hertime to the district since Wil and Meg entered school.

    “It never ends once they begin school,” Foster said.

    Foster was selected for the district award after she was recognizedas Brookhaven Elementary’s parent of the year. Suzanne Britt wasparent of the year at Mamie Martin Elementary, Cindy Townsend atLipsey Middle School and Sharlonda Dickey at the BrookhavenTechnical Center.

    The district parent of the year is selected from among the parentsof the year recipients at each school.

    During Tuesday’s meeting, the board also approved a hunting andfishing lease for 202 acres of the district’s 16th Section Land at$10 an acre. The approved lease was the only bid for that sectionof land. The board also approved the employment of Trevor Bristeras principal of the alternative school, Fannie Mullins.