VIDALIA, La. – A Monroe, La., school employee, a New Orleans man with a background in law enforcement and the system’s current leader are vying to become Concordia Parish’s school superintendent.

Those who applied to replace James Lee, whose contract was not renewed June 30, are C. Arsteal Williams of New Orleans, Richard O. Miles of Monroe and Interim Superintendent Lester L. &uot;Pete&uot;&160;Peterman of Ferriday.

&uot;And interviews will be held next week,&uot; Mary Campbell, chairman of the Concordia Parish School District’s Search Committee, said at the board’s Tuesday meeting. So far, board members will not say when they hope to have a new superintendent in place.

Also, Howard Jackson, the district’s welfare supervisor, presented a proposed policy to curb the problem of out-of-zone students – out-of-parish students going to parish schools or in-parish students going to incorrect schools.

The policy would expand from four to 11 the types of documents that can be used to verify a student’s address and would allow the board to add new methods of verifying addresses as needed.

&uot;If there is still a doubt as to where a student lives, parents will be required to sign an affidavit&uot; saying the student lives where the parents say he does, Jackson said. No action was taken on the policy.

Earlier, the district’s Leinda Peterman said the system should begin a distance learning program by Nov. 1 to offer uncertified teachers courses they need to get certified to teach in Louisiana.

Via the Internet, professors at the state’s universities could teach the courses to teachers at the parish’s schools.