Mississippi School of the Arts students and staff are adjustingwell after the first two weeks of classes with a larger studentbody and smaller operating budget, said Executive Director Dr.Vicki Bodenhamer.

“It’s very different having two classes than before,” Bodenhamersaid. “We’re happy to have twice as many talented, gifted andintelligent students.”

The arts school began this year with 116 students. The schoolhad expected 120 students.

“Not everyone who was extended an invitation accepted,”Bodenhamer said.

Bodenhamer said only four students, three seniors and onejunior, had withdrawn since the start of school.

“They all left saying the loved the school,” Bodenhamer said.”It’s not the school. It’s family/personal reasons.”

Bodenhamer downplayed the prospect of other students deciding towithdraw and return home to the own school districts.

“We’re always going to have attrition,” Bodenhamer said. “Eventhe numbers we lost last year were not as high as at the collegelevel.”

MSA began last year with 68 juniors and the number shrank duringthe year. Forty-six were scheduled to return this year asseniors.

Additional students are presenting some challenges for schooladministrators this year.

“It’s busy,” Bodenhamer said. “Having an in-depth artscurriculum and balancing that schedule with Brookhaven HighSchool’s schedule is challenging.”

Bodenhamer said, though, that city school district and BHSofficials have been very accommodating in working out schedulingissues. MSA students take some non-arts classes at BHS.

With some students in class until 6:33 p.m., they also areadjusting to schedules that are different from a typical highschool.

“Our schedule this year is more like a college schedule,”Bodenhamer said.

The reason for the unusually precise class times, Bodenhamersaid, is that students are required to have a designated number ofeducational minutes in class. For students who have the later classperiods, they have free time during the day.

Bodenhamer said most students have two study hours during theday. Typically, they use one for study and during the other, theyare free to check out and travel within the allowed walking areaoff campus.

Speaking about the longer school day, Elaine Allen, a seniorfrom Meridian, said it did not bother her.

“We’re in class the same number of hours,” Allen said. “I do mybest learning after lunch.”

While now dealing with a second class of students, MSA isadjusting to changes and losses in personnel. Among employees lostdue to a tighter budget was a director of student life.

“Residential life is going well and the staff is pullingtogether to cover any shortage in personnel,” Bodenhamer said. “Ourgoal is to ensure educational excellence and safety for thechildren while they’re here.”

On the academics side, several teachers were needed for theexpanded student population.

Susan Smith, MSA’s previous vocal music teacher, left about twoweeks before classes started to accept a position at Jones CountyJunior College and to be closer to her family. A new vocal musicteacher is expected to start Monday, taking over for a retiredmusic teacher who has been substituting.

“(The students) have not been without a teacher,” Bodenhamersaid.

Also, MSA’s new counselor is a certified social studiesinstructor and has been teaching that class. Bodenhamer said asocial studies teacher is in the process of being found.

“Then we will have a full staff,” Bodenhamer said.

This year’s $1.8 million budget is about $1 million less thanlast year.

Bodenhamer said it is too early in the school year to discussthe impact of the tighter budget on school activities. She saidofficials are watching every penny closely, but she believes theschool is doing better than expected.

“Everybody’s worried about the economy and the things going onthe state of Mississippi,” Bodenhamer said. “I’d rather focus myenergies on educating the kids and being good stewards of statefunds.”

Bri Brewer, a visual arts junior from Natchez, gave MSA a goodreview for her brief time there.

“I think it’s great. I like it,” Brewer said.

Patti Perkins, a member of MSA Host Family Network, whichmatches students with local families, said the network has received”glowing feedback” from host families, MSA students and theirparents. She also expressed appreciation to local merchants whocontributed items to “goody bags” to help welcome this year’s classof juniors.

“We’re overwhelmed with the community response,” Perkinssaid.

Perkins said, however, that the network still is in need of hostfamilies. She said some host families have “doubled up” and takenon their host student’s roommate.

Anyone wishing to serve as host family may contact chairmanRichard Baker at 833-5031 or request an application by contactingthe MSA Foundation P.O. Box 871, Brookhaven, MS, 39602.

“We have more children wanting host families than we’ve everhad,” said Perkins, mentioning the important role host familiesplay in school life. “It serves to help students adjust to lifeaway from home.”