Dr. Vicki Bodenhamer, executive director of Mississippi Schoolof the Arts, updated the Brookhaven School District board oftrustees on how the school year was going so far during the board’smonthly meeting Tuesday.

“We’ve had a busy fall, but a wonderful fall,” she said, addingthat the school’s budget was right on track and in the black.

She noted that MSA students seemed to be mingling well atBrookhaven High School, joining in a number of sports and otherextracurricular activities.

“Our kids enjoyed participating in the homecoming production andgoing to the pep rally and game,” she said.

Other good news the board learned of was a $118,000 Title 6grant the district received recently. The grant money will be usedto buy scanners and computers that will work with existing testingsoftware in the schools, deputy superintendent James Tillmansaid.

Superintendent Lea Barrett informed board members that therecent report card day saw excellent participation from parents,with more than 90 percent at the elementary and middle schools andan average of 80 percent at the high school.

Mamie Martin Elementary School will soon be implementing anationally recognized parent involvement program after boardapproval Tuesday.

The Parent-Teacher Association will work with faculty and staffto bring Watch DOGS, or Dads of Great Students, to campus.

In the program, fathers, grandfathers and stepfathers are askedto volunteer one day a month at their child’s school to encouragemore parental involvement. They will help monitor the halls, readto children and perform other tasks as needed, explainedBarrett.

Barrett also announced to the board that the BHS marching bandreceived all-superior ratings for the seventh consecutive year atcompetition.

Board members ended the meeting and went into executive sessionto discuss student and personnel matters.

No action was taken on the student matter, and board membersapproved allowing Randy Spring to serve as a game administrator forthe district, Barrett said.