The clock is ticking and the Butler County Board of Ed is short on time. With current superintendent of education Mike Reed’s last day of work in the district scheduled for April 6, the board is struggling to find an interim superintendent to handle the day-to-day workings of the board until a permanent replacement for Reed is found.

During a work session Tuesday night, the board, short one member due to the recent resignation of Frank Thigpen, discussed options for filling the temporary post of interim superintendent.

The board has received applications from Gerry Adair and Wayne Boswell, who both informed the board in writing of their willingness to serve in that capacity. Boswell also informed the board he has no intentions of applying for the permanent post of superintendent of ed.

Adair, who currently serves as Administrative Assistant of Federal Programs, said in her letter &uot;I have worked closely with the past two superintendents and I am familiar with the day-to-day operations of the Central Office and the school system. I am knowledgeable about the budget process and board policies.&uot;

Both Adair and Boswell are long-time employees of the school system with Boswell, according to information he provided the board, having served 27 years in central office administration.

&uot;I myself do not have a problem with either of the applicants (Adair and Boswell),&uot; said Billy Jones. &uot;I think they’d both do an excellent job.&uot;

Board member Joanne Peak said she was not in favor of limiting applicants for the interim superintendent’s job to in-house applicants only.

&uot;My preference is to do outside, not to just limit us to in-house,&uot; she said, addressing the board.

Peak said later in the meeting that she preferred to look for a recently retired superintendent in a surrounding county, and said she had been given the names of two prospects that met that criteria, but said she wished not to reveal their names since she had not spoken to them personally. She also said she’d prefer to wait until Thigpen’s replacement is found so that person can have some say in who the interim superintendent would be.

The board is scheduled to review applicants for Thigpen’s seat on the board on March 22, at 7 p.m. and name his successor March 24 during a special called meeting that begins with a farewell reception for Reed at 6 p.m. Based on the board’s timeline, they are anticipating having the superintendent’s position filled by May 16.