Brookhaven School District board members approved Tuesday night a bid to replace building roofs throughout the district and approved emergency sidewalk repairs at Brookhaven High School.

     A low bid of $1.6 million was approved to put new roofs on buildings throughout the district. Earlier this year, the board allocated $1.5 million for roof repairs, putting the low bid slightly above expectations.

     “The bids came in a little higher than anticipated, but they were all right in there together so we know it was a fair bidding process,” Deputy Superintendent James Tillman told board members.

     The entire roof of the Vocational Center will be replaced. Portions of Mamie Martin’s roof need repair, as do about half of Lipsey’s roof and one roof at Alexander Jr. High’s campus.

     The low bidder was E. Cornell Malone Corporation in Jackson.

     The board also approved $82,000 for the construction of new handicapped-accessible sidewalks and ramps at BHS.

     The new sidewalks are needed to fix violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act at the high school. Board members were briefed about these violations and plans to address them at a prior board meeting.

     In other business, board members set a date of June 12 for a public hearing regarding the 2012-13 district budget. A proposed budget will be made available for members of the public to review and offer comment on.

     Superintendent Dr. Lisa Karmacharya also announced the resignation of Deputy Superintendent James Tillman from the district. Tillman officially retired from the district at the end of the 2010-11 school year, but had continued to fill his post in a part-time capacity.

     Karmacharya said she’d offered Tillman another part time contract, but he ultimately declined.

     Board members acknowledged Tillman’s 43 years in the Brookhaven district with a standing ovation.

     Tillman will be replaced by a full-time employee, Karmacharya said.