[03/09/03]Vicksburg and Warren County residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions in the search for a new school superintendent.

A town hall-style meeting conducted by the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees will be Tuesday night at the auditorium at Vicksburg High School.

“This is part of involving the public in the search,” said board president Kay Aasand. “We want the community to let us know what they’re looking for in a superintendent.”

Superintendent Donald Oakes announced Jan. 16 that he would retire after 40 years as an educator.

Aasand said anyone wanting to speak at the meeting will be asked to take a number and numbers will be drawn from a hat. Each person will have the floor for 3 minutes.

“We think that’s the fairest way to do that,” Aasand said. “We will continue with that until time is up or all the numbers are up.”

Aasand said board members are hoping to have a good turnout.

“We need to get the community’s opinions so we can get going,” she said.

The meeting is scheduled when the district’s more than 9,000 students are off for spring break, so some interested people may be able to attend. She said written opinions may be mailed to the school district office.

Aasand said endorsements of specific candidates will not be accepted at the meeting.

She said the search is related to the board’s hiring two former educators, Sherry Fisher and Ted Long, to help find a superintendent. Long and Fisher will be paid $2,500 each to handle applications and questions.

Applications for the position must be postmarked by March 31. Oakes’ last day as superintendent is June 30.