The interview phase began last week for five applicants who are seeking to become the next Iberville Parish Schools Superintendent.
Board members spoke with the hopefuls Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, but no decision has been made yet.
No word had been given at press time if the Board would seek another round of interviews for the candidates.
The interviews have been lengthy, and Board President Mario Migliacio said he is not sure which candidate stand out the most.
"All five had strengths, and the interviews all went well," he said.
Migliacio, who is overseeing the interview process, emphasized the final decision will not be easy.
"I'm going to write down what I thought, and I will stress the positives that I heard, as well as maybe some negatives in there regarding ideas and responses I didn't like," Migliacio said. "I will share that with my board members, and I hope they do the same."
The candidate board members select will replace Dr. Louis Voiron, who announced earlier this year he will retire when his contract expires June 30, 2027.
The vacancy drew five applicants.
Rebecca Johnson, Laura Roussel and Dr. Emily Martin went through the interview process the first evening.
Dr. Clarence Robinson and She-Keitra Matthews went before the board for interviews the following evening.
Johnson and Martin are employed in the Iberville Parish School System.
Among the other candidates, one works in Jefferson Parish but lives in Ascension, while another one commutes from Clinton to New Orleans. The other lives in the Houma/Thibobdaux area.
Migliaccio said he expected more applicants for the job.
"It surprised me, but this is how look at it — school has already started," he said. "Plus, we have a majority of this board will not run again due to term limits, and that might dissuade some people, but a lot of districts in the state of Louisiana are dealing with the same thing."
The contract length — two years — may also be a factor, although it gives the board more leverage.
Some candidates had less experience than others, Migliacio said.
"But during the interview process, we've heard from some really interesting applicants," he said. "It was great to get their thoughts on certain issues."
He emphasized that the decision will not be personal for him or the other board members.
"It will be about what's best for our kids and how well they move our district forward and how it affects the families in the community," he said. "The next step could involve another round of interviews or possibly moving ahead with the appointment of the superintendent."
This article originally appeared on Plaquemine Post South: Iberville School Board begins interviews for next superintendent