The search for a new superintendent has reached the next level for the Dawson County Board of Education.

With just more than two months left before Dawson County School Superintendent Keith Porter is set to retire on May 31, the board began interviews for the position Monday.

Porter, who has spent 30 years with the school system, the past five as superintendent, announced his retirement Dec. 9.

"Currently, the board is holding multiple interviews over the next several days," Porter said. "Once those interviews have been conducted, the list will be narrowed down further and presented to the board."

The board began searching for his replacement in January, enlisting the help of the Georgia School Boards Association during the January board meeting.

The board posted a formal request for applications through GSBA, who took the list of applicants, along with criteria set by the board, and narrowed them down to conduct the preliminary interviews.

The association will provide logistical services to allow the board to continue functioning without having to use its own time and central office staff as resources.

Once the lists of applicants are narrowed down to at least three, the board is then required by open records law to disclose information about those applicants to the public.

"The first set of interviews went very well. We were very pleased with the applicants," said school board Chairman Roger Slaton. "They are all very qualified individuals."

According to Slaton, the board interviewed four applicants on Monday, another four on Tuesday and will be holding the last set of four interviews on Thursday.

While the board was initially aiming for a decision by spring break, Slaton said it may be cutting it close, due to the necessary procedure once the list of applicants is narrowed.