Two finalists for Orleans Parish School Board’s long-awaited permanent superintendent have their last scheduled interviews with the board and will meet the community Wednesday evening.

The board members will interview Debbra Lindo and Henderson Lewis Jr. in executive session at a time and place not yet announced. That evening, the public will meet with the candidates at a reception at Alice Harte Charter School.

Lewis, a New Orleans native, is the superintendent of East Feliciana Parish schools and a member of the St. Bernard Parish School Board. Lindo is an educational consultant who lives in California; she retired last year as superintendent of the small Emeryville, Calif., school district.

Interim superintendent Stan Smith has held the position for more than two and a half years. The lack of a permanent leader has been cited as a marker of instability by several charter school leaders that chose not to return to the auspices of the School Board and remain in the Recovery School District next year. Of 36 schools eligible to return to local control, only two requested the transfer.

Lewis will meet with the community from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Lindo will follow, from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m.  Harte is located at 5300 Berkley Drive on the West Bank.