The Allen Parish School  Board remains at an impasse in selecting the district’s next superintendent of education following another round of votes ending in a stalemate.

The School Board met for a second time Thursday to deliberate over which of the two candidates it should offer the job, after no candidates received the majority of the votes needed to hire a superintendent earlier this week.

Board members were unable to break the 4-4 tie between the district’s Secondary Supervisor of Instruction and Assessment Brad Soileau of Oakdale and the district’s Child Welfare, Attendance and Transportation Supervisor Kenney Courville of Kinder during two more rounds of voting on Thursday.

During paper ballot voting held Monday and Thursday, board members Sally Moreaux, Cathy Farris, Karen Reed and Carleen Mahfaffey voted for Soileau.

Those voting for Courville were Pete Cavenah, Greg Monceau, Carolyn Manuel and Kevin Tyler.

A third candidate, Dwain Ducote was eliminated, as a finalist on Monday.

“I believe we are in a special situation because of the tremendous qualifies of both candidates,” Board President Kevin Tyler said. “Everyone in this room believes strongly in both men. It’s just to find a resolution to get one of them in that leadership role, but I do believe we will be successful.”

The board has called a special meeting for 5 p.m. May 24 to hopefully resolve the issue and select the next superintendent who will take over the position of retiring Superintendent Kent Reed. Reed will retire June 30.

Tyler said the two weeks will give board members time to reevaluate each candidate, speak with constituents to get opinions from across-the-board and re-examine the entire process.

“This is clearly a situation where we have two very qualified candidates and that’s where we are stuck,” Tyler said.

According to attorney John Guice, who addressed the board via live video regarding procedures for electing a new superintendent, said it takes takes a majority vote of the eight-member board, or five votes, to elect a superintendent.

“You have chosen two finalists and it’s simply a matter of how to get five votes for those two candidates,” Guice said. “It boils down to who each of you feel the better person is suited at this time to serve in that capacity.”

Guice said board members should vote with their head and make a decision in the best interest of the students and the district they represent.