One of four to be selected as Palm Beach County School District's new interim superintendent

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - One of four candidates will be selected for the Palm Beach County School District's interim superintendent Wednesday night.

The vote will take place at district headquarters in Suburban West Palm Beach.

The district's last superintendent, Bill Malone, stepped down in October because of health reasons.

Here's a quick look at the four candidates being considered:

Wayne Gent is one of two current Palm Beach County School District employees that applied.

Gent is the current chief officer of administration.

The other current school district employee being considered is school district police chief James Kelly.

Kelly's been the district police chief since 1989.

Kelly has unsuccessfully thrown his hat into two other superintendent races before in Martin and Indian River counties.

The final two applicants that will be presented are retired Palm Beach County schools employees.

Beverlyann Barton retired in 2006 as an area superintendent.
Since then, she's served on the district's budget advisory committee.

Mary Ann Dupont is also a candidate.

She used to be an assistant superintendent in 2004.

Whoever is chosen will not be the permanent superintendent.
NewsChannel 5 has learned of at least one candidate for the permanent role.

Bernard Taylor is the current superintendent for the Grand Rapids, Michigan school district.

He's applied for Palm Beach County's position, and was recently one of two finalists for the Broward County district's superintendent.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, four district employees face disciplinary action, including Kim Griffin.

In January, Griffin was charged with grand theft at Diamond View Elementary in West Palm Beach.

She was the book keeper and she was arrested after 10 thousand dollars in school money was never deposited, then found in her office.

The district is recommending tonight that Griffin be fired this month.