Although no teachers or administrators in the Vicksburg Warren School District will be laid off because of state budget uncertainty, several openings will remain in limbo until the state budget is passed by the Legislature.

Friday was the deadline for Superintendent James Price to inform teachers or administrators if contracts would not be renewed for the next school year. While a few teachers are retiring, moving or being fired, it’s all routine turnover, Price said.

“Out of 516 certified teachers, I’ve got a few that aren’t coming back, but that has nothing to do with budget constraints,” Price said.

Legislators adjourned last week without a state budget for the new fiscal year, beginning July 1. Gov. Haley Barbour is expected to call a special session in May.

At least two administrator positions and 14 teaching slots will remain open until the Legislature passes a budget.

“We’re not going to replace them until we get the final budget from the state,” Price said.

Price expects the number of openings to rise because of teachers announcing resignations after the school year ends.

In the meantime, Price is cobbling together a budget based on the latest estimates from the Legislature.

“I’m developing a budget based on guesswork,” Price said.

Price said he is crafting a budget with $1.3 million less funding than this year.

“Anything above that would be great, and we’ll go back in and alter (the budget). If it’s below that, it’ll be devastating,” Price said.

The 9,200-student district spent $72 million this year, director of financial operations Dale McClung said. About a third of the budget comes from local property taxes. Slightly more than 40 percent comes from state funding. The rest is a mixture of federal and 16th section (land use fees on school-owned property) funds.

Slightly more than $50 million of the school district’s budget pays salaries and benefits of its employees. The next most expensive items are $8 million spent on building-, land- and vehicle-related expenses and $6 million on supplies like gas, food and instructional supplies, district budget records show.

The South stage at Washington and South streets saw the earliest action at 6:30 p.m. as Vicksburg teens competed in the second annual Riverfest Idol.

Grandmothers, parents and friends rooted for their favorite ‘idol’ with signs, painted shirts and cowbells.

“She better win,” Taylor Ditto said of her sister, Roxy Ditto, who performed Whitney Houston’s “Run to You.”

Ditto and four other singers were defeated by a dance group that was comprised of Lyndsey Freeny, Molleigh Wallace and Taylor Thomas. The dancers, who have been performing with Debra Franco Preparatory School of Dance in Vicksburg since they were little, performed a dance number – the first in the two-year history of the local competition.

“It’s another good way to entertain people,” 15-year-old Taylor Thomas said.

The group took away $250 from sponsor Atwood Chevrolet. Even though they will split it three ways, Lyndsey Freeny said it will go to dancing.

The Riverfest Idol competition wasn’t the only excitement happening at the downtown festival Friday. Seven-year-old Mollie Simpson of Greenville couldn’t stay away from the rock wall.

It was all upper arm strength, her mom, Liz Simpson, who is manning the Sno-N-Go booth, said was kepping her going strong.

“When she found out we would be right across from (the rock wall), she said, ‘That’s where I’m going to be,'” Liz Simpson said.

The wall is run by James Carmichael and Jeanie Barber from Tuscalossa, Ala. Barber said it has been a highlight of Riverfest for the last four or five years.

“It’s a big hit – it’s something challenging, not just something fun,” she said.

In exchange for cool drinks, Mollie was allowed unlimited access to the wall.

“Usually it’s two climbs for $5,” Barber said.

More excitement was cooking at the North stage as the Vicksburg band Riverwind cranked up their classic rock sound.

Jenny Stinson danced around, sporting a new Riverwind t-shirt, to support her husband David Stinson, who plays the saxophone for the band.

She said the overflowing bleachers and people dancing at the festival were no surprise to her.

“They’re great,” she said as she danced.

The arts and crafts festival will kick off today’s events at 8 a.m. along Washington between Jackson and China streets with Riverfest activities continuing to South Street. Bands are slated to perform on the three stages throughout the day, with Alcorn State University’s 25th Annual Jazz Fest performers on the North stage.

With temperatures in the 80s and partly cloudy skies, Riverfest board members are expecting a record turnout for today’s festivities.

The daily events are free, and gates will open at 6 with $15 admission for tonight’s entertainment. Bentley will take the North stage at 9.