WINDSOR – The quest to find a new member to serve on the Bertie County Board of Education takes another turn here Friday morning.

The board has scheduled an 8:30 a.m. meeting at the Bertie Schools Central Office to conduct one final interview of the three candidates vying to replace Mike Bracy.

Four months into his first year on the board, Bracy announced on April 3 that he will resign his seat effective May 31. He has accepted a position as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Testing and Accountability with Jones County Public Schools in Trenton.

Emma H. Johnson, Seaton P. Fairless Jr. and Cordia M. Hall are the three candidates from which the school board will choose as Bracy’s successor.

Bertie Board of Education Chairman Rickey Freeman said Friday’s interview session, which is open to the public, is the only item of business on the board’s agenda.

“This is one more opportunity to have the three candidates make their individual presentations to us concerning why they should be the one appointed to the vacant seat,” Freeman said. “It also gives us the opportunity to ask any questions of the candidates.”

Each candidate will be allotted 30 minutes to address the board on Friday.

Freeman said he was “99.9 percent” certain that a final decision will not be reached on Friday. He stated that decision is expected to be announced during Monday’s (June 4) regularly scheduled 7 p.m. school board meeting.

“That’s the plan as of right now,” Freeman said. “I’m fully expecting a decision to be reached on Monday night at which time the chosen candidate can be sworn in and take their seat on the board.”

Each of the three candidates fulfilled the requirements to seek Bracy’s seat – being a qualified Bertie County voter at least 21 years of age and residing within Bracy’s elected district n District III which consists of the Colerain I, Colerain II, Mitchells I and Mitchells II voting precincts.