On Saturday, April 30, the St. Helena Parish School Board held a special meeting - a public forum to discuss the appointment of their new Board Superintendent.

The board has been accepting applications for several months to find a replacement for current Superintendent, Daisy Slan, who will be leaving her post in June.

The Board had narrowed the field down to seven qualified applicants; Lionel Jackson, Kelli Joseph, Diane Robinson, Hamilton Brock, Karl Reichman, Estes Taplin, and Camacia Smith-Ross. The board members announced in the meeting Saturday, that field had been again narrowed down to 3 "finalists."

The three final candidates include, in no particular order; Dr. Camcia Smith-Ross, Lionel Jackson and Kelli Joseph.

Smith is the director of Upward Bound at Dillard University; Kelli Joseph is a K-eighth grade principal in St. John Parish; and Lionell Jackson is the assistant Superintendent of the Tangipahoa Parish School System.

Board President Edward Galmon thanked all of the applicants on behalf of the St. Helena Parish School System for their interest in the position, and noted to the board that there should be no form of communication with the remaining candidates until the new Superintendent is selected.

Selection of the new Superintendent will take place at a meeting on May, 5 at which time the name will be announced to the public.