The Quitman School District will head into the school year with an interim superintendent.

Lynn Weathersby, who had served as superintendent of the Rankin Unified School District for about 16 years, began the post in July. He came to the district after Donna Boone, the former superintendent, submitted her resignation. He said his expected term will be six months.

Weathersby is accustomed to presiding over a school district of about 19,000 students, and the Quitman School District had an enrollment of 1,940 for the 2016-2017 school year, according to figures from the Mississippi Department of Education.

Weathersby said that, despite the size of the district, he’s familiar with small communities. He said Rankin’s district was divided into a number of zones, several of which were small.

“We had a variety,” he said.

Weathersby extolled the Quitman community for the welcome he’s received, and he also spoke about challenges. He mentioned accountability standards as creating a challenge, and he noted obstacles faced by rural districts.

“I think the first one is dollars,” he said. “A mill tax in a metro district will bring in many, many more dollars than in a rural district.”

Weathersby said he spent three terms as a supervisor in Rankin County before he became the school district superintendent — and before that, he worked as a classroom teacher and assistant superintendent.

He said he has placed a high value on schools throughout his professional career.

“When you’re raising a family and have children, you’re close to the schoolhouse whether you want to be or not,” he said.

William Price, president of the district’s school board, cited Weathersby’s experience as a key factor in the hiring process.

“His years of experience made it easy to choose him,” Price said.

Price said the Mississippi School Boards Association provided the school board with the names of retired superintendents interested in interim work. He said the school board continues to be in touch with the association as it assembles candidates for the long-term superintendent’s job.

Students report to their first day of school in the Quitman School District on Monday.