Initial interviews for Northwest Allen County Schools' superintendent could begin as early as the first of the year, the board president said Monday.

Board members have already gathered suggestions for qualities needed in the next leader of the district. Board president Don Duff said within the next few weeks packets will go out to all Indiana superintendents informing them of the vacancy.

“I think we'll start getting (applications and such) back before Christmas,” Duff said.

The superintendent position became available after 19-year veteran Steve Yager left the district in June to take the same position at Southwest Allen County Schools. To ease the strain of filling the position, the district brought back retired DeKalb County Central Schools Superintendent Ken Fowble in the interim. He was a familiar face in NACS, having served as an administrator in previous years.

Duff and other board and district members spoke briefly after Monday's school board meeting about the timeline, which aims to have the position filled by May, allowing the person time to be trained with Fowble before the start of the 2010-11 school year.

Duff said the district is on schedule to meet that deadline.