The State Board of Education has whittled to four its candidates for Mississippi schools’ superintendent.

The search has been under way since Hank Bounds was picked in July to become the Higher Education commissioner.

Education board Chairman Bill Jones, of Petal, said the candidates will be interviewed Nov. 3.

Board members hope to have Bounds’ replacement in place by Jan. 1. Bounds made $307,000 a year.

At one time, Jones said, there were 22 candidates for the job.

The superintendent oversees the state Department of Education, which has responsibility for nearly 500,000 public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade.