Federal grant money will fund the purchase of a new handicapschool bus for the Brookhaven School District.

Deputy Superintendent James Tillman announced the grant Tuesdayduring the monthly school board meeting and requested boardapproval to use the $49,000 to purchase a 2005 Fordhandicap-equipped bus.

The request received unanimous approval.

Tillman pointed out that the purchase is a budgeted specialeducation item approved by the Mississippi Department ofEducation.

The board also approved Tillman’s request to advertise the saleof a 1954 Ford vehicle used in the auto mechanics shop. Tillmansaid the vehicle, which was donated, was no longer needed forinstruction.

In other financial matters, Superintendent Lea Barrett announcedthat the district was among only 15 districts in the state thatrecently received confirmation of full funding for the 2004-05school year for the E-rate program, which provides Internet servicefor the district.

Barrett explained to board members that the program saves thedistrict thousands of dollars in Internet access fees.

The board then briefly discussed the need to change the Decembermeeting date because of a scheduling conflict for board chairmanDr. Prentiss Smith. The board decided to change the meeting datefrom Dec. 14 to Dec. 16.

The regular meeting came to an close and was followed by anexecutive session to discuss personnel. No action was taken duringthe closed executive session.