JACKSON – The search has finally ended.

The Northampton County Board of Education will announce the new superintendent on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office.

The announcement comes a little more than two weeks after the projected date.

The search for the new superintendent began earlier this year when Superintendent Kathi Gibson announced her retirement after three years with the school district.

Working with the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA), board members worked to narrow down the applicants.

In the time line provided by the NCSBA, applications for the position were accepted until March 4, with the board having candidates narrowed down by March 24. An anticipated announcement for a superintendent was slated for May 12.

Public comment was also taken into consideration for the selection. In March, two forums were held on either side of the county.

On the eastern side of the county, citizens urged board members to choose a visible, interactive leader for the students for Northampton County. They also asked board members to select a person that would bring stability to the schools and was familiar with the issues students in Northampton County face.