Avoyelles superintendent field reduced to three

Three applicants will advance to the final round of the selection process for a new superintendent of schools this Wednesday after the Avoyelles Parish School Board members narrowed the field of six in a special meeting.
The finalists are (in alphabetical order): -- Alison Andrews, of LaPlace, who has been the Tangipahoa Parish School District’s Magnet Program supervisor since 2010. -- Blaine Dauzat, of Cottonport, who is principal of LaSAS and who was a finalist for the Caldwell Parish superintendency in 2011. -- Dr. Charles S. Michel, of Metairie, who has been the Lafourche Parish School District’s Special Education director since 2007. School Board members met with all six candidates individually in closed session last Tuesday, with each candidate given 30 minutes. Some interviews went over the allotted time. The interviews took about four hours. Board members used a point system to give each applicant a “score” during their interview.
After the interviews were concluded, Assistant Superintendent Thelma Prater tallied the scores. All candidates were notified of the results. Board members will not make a decision or reduce the number of finalists after the Wednesday interviews.
The board members will vote for their choice of superintendent at the board’s regular meeting Feb. 3.
School Board President Van Kojis said he was pleased with the work of the board during this process. He said board members asked questions and fielded comments from the candidates during the interviews last week. “I want to thank all six candidates who applied, because they were all worthy candidates,” Kojis said. “In the second round of interviews, there will be no time limit,” he added. Kojis said each board member will ask the same question to all three candidates. The applicants will also be able to ask questions to better understand what to expect in the job if they are selected.