Brookhaven School District’s board members approved a more than$20 million budget Tuesday for the 2002-2003 school year.

Following a public hearing last week, the budget was open forreview and no objections were made at a meeting last night.

“I think it’s a very solid budget,” said Superintendent Dr. SamBounds as he reviewed the figures.

The budget shows an expected $20,293,613 in total revenue withonly about $20,075,637 in expenditures for the upcoming year,leaving a cushion of $217,986.

“Anytime your expenditures fall less than your revenue, you’rein pretty good shape,” said Bounds.

He explained how the district would remain that way as long asthe Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) was fully fundedby legislators.

“We hope the state keeps their word,” said Bounds.

In other financial matters, Brookhaven faces almost the samesituation as the Lincoln County School District in correcting lastyear’s budget, which suffered a shortfall in ad valorem funds.

The board agreed Tuesday to allow the district to borrow the$357,926 needed to cover the shortfall.

An executive session brought forth discussion on verification ofthe district’s lines, said board attorney Bob Allen.

“There seems to have been a question raised about where theactual boundaries of the district are,” said Allen. “There are sometransfers to deal with where people thought they were in ourdistrict and they may not be.”

The board asked Allen to continue studying the boundariesoutside the city limits dividing the Brookhaven School Districtfrom the Lincoln County School District.

Also, getting the attention of board members Tuesday were agroup of dedicated parents who were honored for their contributionsof love and hard work to the district.

Sheila Sartin was commended for her commitment to Mamie MartinElementary School as a parent who helped regularly during theschool year. Leanne Collier, who was not present due to herhusband’s transfer out-of-state, was recognized as BrookhavenElementary School’s parent of year.

Lipsey Middle School’s parent of the year was Robin Aker for herwork in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and TOP (Tobacco OffPremises) Squad, while Celeste Carty was honored by PrincipalLeVander German for her efforts at getting other parents involvedat Alexander Junior High School.

“My biggest thing is parental involvement. I wanted the parentsto come to the school and see what was going on. I wanted toaverage 10 parents a day coming to the school, and she (Carty) tookthat on,” said German.

Tammy Vinson was recognized by BHS Principal Susan Chapman forher involvement in the basketball, slow-pitch softball andfast-pitch softball booster clubs at Brookhaven High School.

Ken Chapman was named the Brookhaven Technical Center’s parentof the year just minutes before being shocked with the presentationof the district parent of the year award.

“It’s an honor and it’s a privilege. I truly believe thatparents need to get involved,” said Chapman, who had a son graduatefrom BHS in 1996 and a daughter graduate in 2002.

He explained how important it is for parents to become involvedthrough volunteering and by talking with their children every nightabout school.

All of the parents’ efforts were referred to as the “treasuresof the district” while they were commended by board president AmyValentine.