The Orleans Parish School Board appears poised to hire a new superintendent at its meeting Tuesday.

The board invited candidates Debbra Lindo, Katrise Perera, and Henderson Lewis for a second interview this week after an initial round of interviews last week.

The very last items on Tuesday’s agenda includes a scheduled executive session to discuss the candidates and an action item described as “Election of superintendent for the Orleans Parish School Board.”

The description states the board will consider Lindo, Perera and Lewis. Lindo was most recently superintendent for the Emery Unified School District in California and announced her retirement last fall. Perera serves as superintendent of Isle of Wight County Schools in Virginia.

Lewis is the superintendent of the East Feliciana Parish School District and a member of the St. Bernard Parish School Board. He has also held leadership positions in the Algiers Charter Schools Association.

Interim Superintendent Stan Smith has led the district for more than two years, an unusually long tenure for an interim. That fact has been cited as a marker of instability for the parish-run district, also known for having a fractious board.

The lack of a permanent superintendent was repeatedly cited as a reason to avoid the district by academically eligible Recovery School District charter school boards as they considered whether to return to the auspices of the School Board this fall. Only one board has decided to return so far.

The School Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday at McDonogh No. 35 High School at 1331 Kerlerec St.

Marta Jewson

Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned...