Nearly two dozen seek Wake schools chief job

About two dozen people have applied to become the next Wake County school superintendent.

Board of Education Chairman Keith Sutton said the application period closed Monday, and the board plans to work with its search firm to narrow the field to six candidates by early May. Those people would be brought in for interviews before three finalists are selected, and officials said parents, teachers and others will have a chance to provide input for the ultimate selection.

Sutton said the board hopes to have a new superintendent on the job by July.

Superintendent Tony Tata was fired last September, and Interim Superintendent Stephen Gainey plans to leave Wake County this summer to take the top job in Randolph County Schools.