GONZALES - The Ascension Parish School Board was expected to announce finalists for the vacant Superintendent position Tuesday night, but instead the board decided to start their search over again.

The board interviewed four candidates for the position last week, and met Tuesday expecting to narrow that list to the top candidates. Instead, the board will now readvertise the position.

"I would like to thank the Board for working together through this process and all the applicants for expressing interest in our school system. We will continue to move forward until we get the right person," Ascension Parish School Board President Patricia Russo said.

The previous Ascension Parish Superintendent, Patrice Pujol, left the job in March after more than three decades in the school system. She accepted a position as the president of the National Institute of Excellence in Teaching.

A. Denise Graces is currently serving as Interim Superintendent.