NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez will accept applications for the next two weeks to fill a vacancy that will open up Friday on the Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees.

School board trustee Benny Wright’s previously announced resignation will be effective Friday.

Wright submitted his resignation to the Natchez Board of Aldermen early this month after serving on the board for eight years. Wright expressed dissatisfaction in the direction the board was taking in overseeing the Natchez-Adams School District.

The board of aldermen officially asked for the submission of applications at its Tuesday board meeting.

Mayor Darryl Grennell said Wednesday that following the two-week application period interviews would be scheduled with applicants.

The city will be searching for a candidate with several qualities, Grennell said, indicative of someone who can bring strong leadership and experience to the school board.

“I think definitely a love for public education … is No. 1 for me,” Grennell said. “I don’t want to say that they would have to be an educator or past educator. I think (we want) a person who has experience in … a leadership role, a person who is a community builder and wants to help move education forward.”

A candidate who has experience with budgets and the budgeting process and evaluating job performance, such as that of a superintendent, is preferred, Grennell said.

A potential candidate is not required to have experience or leadership related exclusively to the field of education.

Grennell said he would like to have a new school board trustee in place by the end of October.

Applications for the school board position can be obtained by sending a resume to the mayor’s office at City Hall, 124 S. Pearl St. Once a resume is submitted, the city will provide an application to be filled out by potential candidates.