With the search for a new superintendent of schools at an impasse, the Allen Parish School has set its sights on finding an interim leader.

During a special meeting Tuesday, the board agreed to have its members submit names for potential interim superintendent and set a meeting for 5 p.m. June 26 to consider the candidates. Board members have until Wednesday, June 21, to submit names for consideration to Board President Kevin Tyler.

“If we can take a couple of days to gather some names, reconvene, put the best names forward, put it to a vote and try to hire somebody and move forward to break the tie,” Tyler said.

The board has been unable to end its 4-4 tie vote between the district’s Child Welfare, Attendance and Transportation Supervisor Kenney Courville, 46, of Kinder and Secondary Supervisor of Instruction and Assessment Brad Soileau, 46, of Oakdale.

A majority of five votes are needed to elect a superintendent, as well as appoint an interim.

“I know our people want to know who their next leader is because unknowing makes people uncomfortable,” Courville said after the meeting. “I hate this for our parish.”

Courville said he knows the board has a tough decision to make, but hopes the issues gets resolved sooner than later.

Soileau said the board is making progress and moving in a positive direction by agreeing to name an interim superintendent to replace current Superintendent Kent Reed who will retire June 30.

“It is still going to be a challenge, but they have to break the tie which is in the best interest of the public,” Soileau said.

Board member Cathy Farris is concerned about the effect of the board’s inability to move forward on selecting a superintendent after what has now been five meetings.

“My concern is we are a very small district and right now our district is suffering,” Farris said. “ Our supervisors, our teachers and our kids. They are the ones taking the beating. We’ve got to get this plan going.”

As for qualifications for an interim superintendent, attorney Bob Hammonds, who represents School Boards across the state, said there are no formal requirements with regards to the selection of an interim superintendent.

“You name who you choose to be your interim during such a period of time when you don’t have a superintendent,” Hammonds said.

The interim would serve on a day-to-day basis for up to six months or until a permanent superintendent is appointed.

In addition, Hammonds said the board does not have to go through the normal process to hire an interim superintendent, including advertising for the position, conducting interviews or signing contracts. The interim will also be able to sign checks and contracts and “run the office” while the board continues its search for a new superintendent, Hammonds said.

As with the issues of certification, Hammond said the statute does not address whether an interim superintendent has to be certified as a superintendent or not to serve as an interim. From experience, he said he has seen school districts who have used individuals on staff who do not have superintendent certification to serve as an interim. Others have chosen interims who had superintendent certification, he said.

“There is even some concern in my own office on the issue of certification because it can be argued that a superintendent who makes decisions, in particularly in the area of personnel and who is not certified as a superintendent in the state of Louisiana, then those personnel decisions could be called into jeopardy by somebody arguing that the person does not have authority to say whether or not I keep my job,” Hammonds said, noting that by state law all employment decisions are the responsibility of the superintendent.

If the board agrees to accept certified interim candidates only the pool would be very small, Tyler said. Opening it up to non-certified candidates would give the board more options, he said.

The board also has the option of considering retired superintendents from the surrounding area, Tyler said,

Board member Carolyn Manuel said the best alternative for the board would be to hire Reed back after he retires. However, Reed told the board he would prefer to retire.

“It would have to be an 8-0 unanimous vote and there would have to be no other options,” Reed said. “It would have to be a critical situation where I couldn’t just walk away from this board.”