At Tuesday evening’s board meeting, the Brookhaven School District Board of Trustees discussed a budget for the 2013-2014 school year that directs 89 percent of the total funds directly into instructional costs for students.

Interim Superintendent of Education Stephanie Henderson said instructional costs range from teachers’ salaries to school supplies. The total budget for the next fiscal year is $29.8 million.

Henderson said the school district is committed to providing the best possible learning environment in the schools, even with lower funding levels. Henderson said the district is not looking to raise local taxes.

“We commit to being conservative on our spending,” Henderson said.

The amount of federal funds has not been finalized, but the district’s budget is based on receiving at least 85 percent of the amount the city schools received during the 2012-2013 school year.

If the district receives more than this amount, the supplies account will see the largest increase.

With the recent death of board member Dan Brown, the school board had an opening for secretary of the board. The board voted unanimously, 3-0, to move Erin Smith to that position.

In other action, the board voted to “happily” accept 75 students for transfer into the school system. The trustees also voted to release several students from the district.

Henderson said all the students requesting transfers from the city had parents working in other districts.

The board approved the hiring of several teachers at Mamie Martin Elementary, Lipsey School, Alexander Junior High School and Brookhaven High School, along with custodial staff and bus drivers for the transportation department.

The trustees also approved termination of some custodial and cafeteria employees as submitted.