The Vicksburg-Warren School Board will announce Thursday its pick for superintendent, Vice President John Carlisle said Monday.

The board made its decision Saturday after interviewing three candidates including Natchez-Adams Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis, Carlisle said.

&uot;It was not an easy decision,&uot; said Carlisle, who was glad to have the process completed.

&uot;These things are time consuming,&uot; Carlisle said. &uot;(It’s) hard on everyone – candidates included.&uot;

Davis said the interview went well but he had thought the Vicksburg-Warren School Board planned to take more time before making a decision.

Davis had planned to spend the next week or so studying information on the Vicksburg-Warren School District and deciding what decision he wanted to make regardless of what the school district decided.

But Davis said he also has to look at whatever opportunities might advance his career.

&uot;Whatever happens – happens,&uot; Davis said about the Vicksburg position.

The two other candidates interviewed for the position were Donald Oakes, the Vicksburg-Warren interim superintendent and Dr. Timothy Havard, assistant superintendent of Jackson County School District in Vancleave.

&uot;(We) had three really good candidates,&uot; Carlisle said.

Davis interviewed for the position Saturday afternoon and he thought the Vicksburg-Warren School Board conducted an organized interview.

He answered questions from the board members and the members of a superintendent search committee.

Questions included such topics as parents placing their children in private schools, ways to bring the community together, test scores and student achievement, Davis said.

&uot;I was able to share with them the majority of things that I’m real proud of here in Natchez that we’ve been able to accomplish over the last two years,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said he did not seek the interview but instead a consultant assisting the Vicksburg-Warren School District contacted him about it. By going through with the interview, Davis said he had kept his word on the matter.

&uot;I’m not sold on the idea that I want to go or (that) it’s a good fit,&uot; he said Monday thinking that he needed to think about it more.

Some of his thoughts have been affected by people in the community, Davis said.

Since he announced plans to interview in Vicksburg, many people have talked to him about it including one woman who begged him not to leave because the Natchez children needed him.

&uot;And that just touched my heart,&uot; Davis said.

Davis has been the superintendent of the Natchez-Adams Schools since January 1999, having signed a 3 1/2 year contract.

&160;

&160;