The Troy City School Board interviewed its final candidate Thursday afternoon at City Hall.

William Capehart, superintendent of Boyd County Public Schools in Ashland, Ky., finished out what board members say is a successful week of interviews.

Board president Ron Pierce said all the interviews went well and each candidate was prepared to answer and ask questions.

One of the most important issues this week was budgeting.

Board member Roxie Kitchens said that was one of the key issues on her mind this week and she is confidant that each of the candidates has the ability to work with school system's uncertain budget.

"The candidates have either handled larger budgets than ours or they are very capable of learning the process," she said.

Kitchens said the easy part was over and the challenge of selecting a new superintendent is just ahead.

"It's going to require a lot of thought," she said."

Capehart was pleased with his interview as well.

Even before he came, Capehart researched the school system's test scores and statistics.

"I've done a great deal of research," he said.

"I think that a superintendent candidate owes that to the board."

Capehart said what he researched made him "more excited" to come to Troy.

Capehart's experience has been in systems several times larger than Troy's and he said he was looking for an area he would be able to noticeably impact.

"I wanted one time that I could really become more personalized in the education of every child," he said.

His visit to Troy confirmed his good feelings for Troy.

He said he was especially impressed with the principals.

"I was impressed with the manner in which the principals considered themselves as chief instructional leaders," he said.

"They are the curriculum leaders."

Pierce said Capehart's interview sealed the week's work and made it an official success.

"Let me put it this way," he said.

"Unless all four candidates say no, we won't have advertise again."

Pierce and Kitchens said the next step is a work session to discuss the interviews.

When the session will be is still in the air.

The board does meet for a regular meeting on Monday, but Pierce said the board would not take action on the superintendent position.

"We might go into executive session to discuss the good name and character of the candidates, but we won't decide anything," he said.

Pierce said that after the board narrows the candidates, members will perform deeper background and credit checks.

"We may also do another interview, if we get it down to two really qualified people," he said.

"And we may go and visit the location of their school system."

The week didn't just bring in good candidates; it also brought in good ideas.

Kitchens said she learned a lot about the responsibilities of a superintendent and heard several new ideas about what the superintendents or principals did in their own systems and how they solved problems.

"I have a list," she said.

"I wrote down all the ideas I heard and when we do get a new superintendent, I will bring those ideas up."