Now that final budgets have been approved by legislators, schooldistricts are beginning to plan for next year.

During their regularly scheduled meeting, Lincoln County SchoolDistrict board members approved the hiring of personnel for the2002-2003 school year.

While discussing the budget for the year, Superintendent ofEducation Perry Miller told the board, “We feel comfortable that wecan sustain anything they throw at us next year.”

The approved budget included the 6 percent state pay raises forteachers and a district-wide 5 percent salary increase forcafeteria employees.

School bus drivers also will see a slight increase in pay fornext year, after the board approved a new pay scale based onexperience and number of hours worked each day.

“It is going to cost us a little more, but we feel like it’sfair,” said Miller.

Board members agreed, saying they believed bus drivers wereworth the pay because of the amount of stress and skill in thejob.

Also in personnel matters, the board approved a hearing requestfrom a central office employee whose contract was not renewed fornext year.

The board also accepted resignation from Bogue Chitto footballcoach Carl Cole and Loyd Star coach Anthony Hart.

Garreth Sartin was hired to replace Cole and Lane Young washired to fill the vacant basketball coach position at WestLincoln.

The next scheduled meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., May 20,at the central office.