At least two current Lauderdale County School District administrators intend to apply for the superintendent position available on July 1.

Kevin Cheatham, director of career and technical education, technology, and operations, and Russell Keene, principal of Southeast High School, each confirmed to The Meridian Star on Friday interest in leading the district.

The office will be open when long-serving superintendent Randy Hodges retires on June 30. Mississippi law now requires county school boards to appoint superintendents, who were previously elected by voters. 

Both Cheatham and Keene are enrolled in the Prospective Superintendent Leadership Academy, a professional development program run by the Mississippi School Boards Association, the organization leading the search for the next leader of the district. 

The position pays an annual salary of $120,439.

During the Jan. 25 school board meeting to hear from the two organizations interested in leading the search, discussion involved training for potential superintendents MSBA provides for school officials and potential for internal candidates.

Denotris Jackson, assistant executive director of the MSBA, said completing the leadership academy could help potential candidates for the job.

“Would them having completed the academy have a possible bearing?” Jackson said. “Probably, but we have had some duds.”

Both Cheatham and Keene will complete the program this year. It provides training related to superintendents’ executive and administrative responsibilities for school districts.

In seeking the position, Cheatham and Keene both cite experience and a desire to move the district forward.

“I think an important aspect of the new superintendent is being able to develop students for the workforce in Lauderdale County,” said Cheatham, who began working for the school district more than 17 years ago as principal of West Lauderdale Middle School.

Cheatham then worked at West Lauderdale High School before moving to the district office. Altogether, he has more than 29 years in education and received professional honors including Third Congressional District Administrator of the Year for the 2014-2015 school year.

Meridian native Keene taught in Lakeland, Florida before teaching computer discovery and serving as assistant principal at Northeast Lauderdale Middle School. He has served as principal at Southeast Lauderdale High School since July 2015.

“I have a deep history of Lauderdale County schools and the inner workings at all four corners of the school district,” Keene said. “Lauderdale County is my home, and I have a vested interest in improving this area.”

Other employees in the school district could seek the position, including Ryan Powell, principal of Southeast Lauderdale Elementary School, who is also enrolled in the superintendent training program.

“I have not decided fully to put my name in the pot,” Powell said. “My wife and I are talking about it.”

In the coming weeks, school board members will discuss whether to raise the salary of the position as well as details related to the search process. Board members have said they want the new school district leader announced by early June.

The search will likely include meetings with different groups associated with the  district, including community members, teachers and administrators.

The search process will likely involve the board choosing a superintendent from a list of finalists recommended by the search consultants.