Current Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Staff Development of Polk County Schools, Dr. Jean Rhoades, was voted in Thursday as the system’s interim superintendent.

Rhoades will temporarily fill the position left by former Superintendent Billy Pack. Pack’s last day at the office was December 19. His last official day in Jan. 1.

Voted in during a Thursday afternoon meeting of the Polk County Board of Education, Rhoades received the title in a 6-2 vote by the board.

Voting yes to instate Rhoades as interim superintendent

were board members Dr. Harold Wingfield, Regina Roberts, Bettie Faye Lewis, Guy Rutland, Beth Warner and Chairman Rick Lundy. Voting no were members Harold Lumpkin and Frank Plant.

This is not Rhoades first stint and an interim. She held the position when former Superin-tendent Jimmy Carter retired from his position back in August of 2000. Rhoades served as interim from September through October of that year.

Rhoades is excited about the opportunity to take charge of the school board and the sys-tem’s business. “I am going to be working on many different challenges the board and the school system faces,” said Rhoades. “I’m going to be sure to keep the focus on student acheivement.”

Rhoades has been employed with the Polk School District since 1990.

She is not sure when the search for a new superinten-dent will take place, however, board member Harold Wingfield would like to see the search begin as soon as possible.

“I can’t speak for the board,” said Wingfield, “but I would like to see it start right away.”

Pack resigned from his position of superintendent during a Monday, Dec. 15 school board meeting. He will be taking an-other superindentent job in Alabama next year.