The Suffolk School Board could be close to selecting a new superintendent to lead the school division.

A special meeting has been called for 6 p.m. Thursday at the School Administrative Offices to discuss a contract for a superintendent. That meeting will start in open session but is expected to go into a closed session to discuss a personnel matter, according to the meeting notice.

School division attorney Wendell Waller stated by email Monday that the closed meeting “involves what can be included in terms and conditions of a proposed contract for superintendent. If the discussion took place in an open meeting, it would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body.”

The board last Thursday announced a 15-day window to conduct a second round of interviews for superintendent candidates at an undisclosed location. The first round of interviews was set to take place sometime between Aug. 14 and 28, also at an undisclosed location.

The Virginia School Boards Association has been helping conduct the search for a new superintendent, as 36 people applied for the position. Sixteen of the candidates have current or prior superintendent experience, and another 11 are either assistant, associate or deputy superintendents.

Dr. LaToya Harrison was named as the division’s interim superintendent earlier this month, as outgoing superintendent Dr. Deran Whitney announced his retirement in April, with his last official day as Sept. 1.

Whitney made $204,000 in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, and his position was budgeted for $208,590 in the current fiscal year.