VIDALIA &045; Despite an hour-long executive session to discuss the three remaining applicants for Concordia Parish superintendent, the Concordia Parish School Board voted 6-3 Tuesday night to readvertise for the position of superintendent.

After deadlocking with three votes for each of the three candidates &045; Fred Butcher, Julius Huhn and Kerry Laster &045; Raymond Riley Sr. made a motion that the board readvertise for the position, with Martha J. Rabb, Jimmy Wilkinson and Darrell M. Crofford voting against the motion.

Riley said he thought readvertising for the position might be a way to get a new superintendent since &uot;we are deadlocked on the position,&uot; adding it could be a &uot;way to break this tie.&uot;

One issue that prompted lengthy discussion from the board was the policing of out of state students. Crofford recommended the board hire someone whose job it was to make sure the students in the parish’s schools actually live where they go to school.

Howard Jackson, supervisor of child welfare and attendance, is in charge of this job now, but it is a job too large for just him to handle.

Board member Ricky Raven said if someone was hired, that person would have to work with Jackson to police what Jackson called a &uot;30-plus year problem&uot; and an &uot;ongoing problem.&uot;

Interim superintendent Butcher pointed out that taking on this problem includes much more than just out of state students but also out of zone students.

Jackson agreed, saying, &uot;It is hard to do out of state without starting within. That’s the only fair way to do it.&uot;

The board agreed that someone should be hired but Raven said the board and district must be careful about who is hired to do the job and the parameters taken to enforce it.

School board attorney Bob Hammonds gave the board many examples of how other districts enforce it &045; tightening admission requirements and bringing proof of where the family lives through water bills, etc.

Butcher and Jackson will look into hiring someone and make recommendations to the board.

On a 7-2 vote, the board accepted the resignations, retirements, military leave and appointments of new personnel.