DEMOPOLIS &045; Superintendent Dr. Wesley Hill said Tuesday that the interview process to choose his successor will be conducted in open meetings.

The Board of Education settled on a process to choose the first superintendent in 26 years during a closed executive session following their Monday night meeting. Dr. Hill said the board will use two outside consultants to filter through applications and provide the board with a list the consultants feel are best qualified. From there, Dr. Hill said, the board will narrow the list to a group of finalists.

Chairman Gary Holeman said Monday night that the board was looking at using a process similar to the one used to choose principals at the high school and elementary school. In both of those searches, a consultant was used. It is a practice that is commonplace among districts with appointed superintendents.

The deadline for applications is Jan. 31. Hill said interviews would begin in February.

Mayor Cecil Williamson appeared before the board to urge them to use an open forum to interview candidates. She called the position of superintendent &8220;more important than mayor.&8221;

At the beginning of the year, Dr. Hill made known his intention to retire at the conclusion of this academic year. While he has not provided the board with his formal notice of resignation, Dr. Hill said his last day will be June 30, 2007.

Dr. Hill came to the district from Georgia in 1980. He will have serve 27 years at his retirement. He succeeded Dr. A. A. Knight, who served 14 years.