The Bibb County School Board is still working on naming a new interim superintendent. Current interim superintendent Steve Smith leaves at the end of the month and isn't extending his contract.
It's been nearly two years since the struggling district has had a full-time superintendent. In February 2013, the board bought out Superintendent Romain Dallemand's contract.
After some negotiations Smith started in June of that year as interim superintendent. Then it took several more months to advertise the job. This past spring 23 people applied. However in May, the board decided to throw out that field of candidates and start a new search. Head of the superintendent search committee said that's because they broadened the criteria to draw a bigger pool of applicants.
In this most recent round 44 people applied. The Georgia School Boards Association has been helping with the search and interviews started in October. But still no announcement of finalists.
Even if the school board moves quickly they'll still probably need to pick a new interim chief. According to state law once the board names finalists, they have to wait 14 days before a final vote.
That means they would need to name finalists by December 17th to make their pick by the 31st when Smith's contract ends.
But Farmer said there's often a gap between hiring the superintendent and them actually reporting for work.
No matter what Smith said he's leaving the superintendent's office at the end of this month.
But if the board asks he said he'll make himself available to help a new superintendent get started, whenever that happens.
