ISLE OF WIGHT—Interviews will begin Monday, April 11, for a new superintendent for Isle of Wight County Schools.

Twenty-nine people, including five from within the school district, have applied for the position, which Superintendent Dr. Michael McPherson will retire from on June 30. McPherson has led the school district since 2002.

The school district is paying $10,000 to the Virginia School Boards Association to assist in the search.

School Board Chairman David Goodrich said Wednesday he is pleased with the applicants.

“I think we received many excellent applications,” Goodrich said. “We have some highly qualified people.”

Six of the applicants are current or former superintendents, while seven are assistant and deputy superintendents, said Katherine Goff, public information officer for the school district. Twenty-one applicants are from Virginia, while the rest live in Georgia, Illinois, Vermont, Texas, North Carolina, Colorado and New Jersey.

Goodrich would not say how many will be interviewed.

“I’m not a liberty to give you that information at this point because we are just simply not to tell,” he said. “We have narrowed the list down.”

Interviews are expected to be conducted through Tuesday, April 26. A second round will be held Wednesday, April 27, through Friday, May 13.

Pay has not been established.

“We will negotiate that with whomever is selected,” Goodrich said.

Goff said she expects the board to make a decision in May.