VIDALIA, La. &045; After a three-way tie vote over who will be the permanent Concordia Parish superintendent, the school board decided to name Fred Butcher as the interim superintendent.

Butcher, director of academics for the school district, was chosen for the interim post by a two-thirds vote.

After the first executive session, the board voted by ballot for superintendent, deciding to eliminate the candidate with the least amount of votes.

After a first vote, Kerry Laster, Butcher and Julius Huhn all received three votes. After voting, the board entered into another executive session to discuss the applicants.

After the second session, Raymond T. Riley Sr. motioned for the board to appoint an interim superintendent, which passed by a two-third vote of the board. He also motioned for the board to appoint Butcher.

Board members Donald Joseph, Martha J. Rabb and Jimmy Wilkinson voted against naming an interim and naming Butcher. &uot;I did not want to give either candidate an advantage,&uot; Joseph said. &uot;I wanted to keep them on an even keel.&uot;

Board President Ernest Lynn White said with the split in votes and the beginning of school approaching, the board felt it was best to name an interim. &uot;The board felt we needed to name an interim because we have a lot of business to take care of,&uot; White said.

With students set to hit the halls of Concordia Parish Schools on Aug. 18, Butcher agreed.

Butcher said he would have liked to have been permanently appointed, but thanked the board for the opportunity because he is looking forward to making sure the students have an environment where they can achieve. &uot;This is a very critical time,&uot; Butcher said.

&uot;We have a lot of work to do between now and then.&uot;

Butcher said he will talk the staff today so they can prepare for school to start.

Although this is just an interim role, Butcher said he will make the most of it to prove himself and for the benefit of the school district.

&uot;I will take this opportunity and make the most of it. Not for Fred Butcher, but for the students and the system,&uot; Butcher said.

White said he did not know when the board would meet again to discuss the superintendent position or when a vote would be taken to name someone to the post permanently.