A familiar face will be leading the staff and students at Enterprise Attendance Center.

Former Lincoln County School Superintendent Terry Brister came out of retirement to take the reins at Enterprise, replacing Shannon Eubanks, who resigned July 5 after 12 years as principal.

Brister began the first day of his new job Monday.

“He’s hit the ground running in Enterprise,” Superintendent Mickey Myers said at Monday night’s meeting of the Lincoln County School Board.

Brister was recommended for the position at the July 18 board meeting during an executive session. Following the closed-door meeting, board members approved Brister’s employment.

Myers said he was concerned about finding a suitable replacement for Eubanks after his resignation so close to the new school year starting.

“Lincoln County Schools is a pretty good place to work. Normally, if it’s a vacancy in March, April we know about, there’s a lot of applicants. Once you move into July, the pool gets a lot shallower because most people are under contract,” he said.

Myers and Eubanks brainstormed some replacement ideas and Brister’s name was mentioned.

The retired educator, who lives in Enterprise, had kept a low profile, but Myers had seen Brister’s wife at an event and asked her about the former superintendent.

“I asked her how the boss was doing and she said ‘Bored to death. You can only bush hog so much’” he said.

He believes Brister, who served three four-year terms as superintendent before Myers took office, is the perfect pick for Enterprise. Prior to serving as superintendent, he was also principal at Loyd Star Attendance Center.

“Obviously, you look for a good fit for a school and for the community, and I don’t know anybody who knows that area and the Enterprise family like Mr. Brister.”

Because Brister had retired, Mississippi Department of Education rules will only allow him to be paid 25 percent of his salary and keep his retirement.

“He’s actually the lowest paid certified employee in the district,” Myers said. “That shows a tremendous level of dedication to the Lincoln County School District for him to come out of retirement for such minimal compensation.”

Enrollment at Enterprise Attendance Center is about 850 students, Myers said.

In other business, board members voted to raise admission to varsity football games from $5 to $6. Myers will check with other counties’ admission costs before board members consider raising the ticket prices for other sports.

The board’s next meeting is Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. in the district office.