By Lindsay Labus

The Karnes City School Board on Monday named Frances Penland, an elementary school principal from Marlin, as the lone finalist for the superintendent’s job.

Now by law, the board must wait 21 days until a contract is approved.

Board members held several specially called meetings beginning March 26 to interview six of 34 applicants they had narrowed down for this position left vacant last summer when Bernard Zarosky resigned to take a job in Pleasanton.

"The board was fortunate to have several outstanding candidates to select from," School Board President Dennis Mika said. "Their experience ranged from principals wishing to step up to superintendent to over 20 years’ experience as a superintendent."

Brochures were sent out in January advertising the position, and a profile questionnaire distributed to selected students, teachers and administrators asking what qualities they wanted in a superintendent.

"They got an excellent person," KCISD Interim Superintendent Eli Casey said. "There were three top candidates and they were all good."

Marlin is located southeast of Waco. The school district, which employs 248 people, according to its website, was acceptably rated by the Texas Education Agency for 2006.

Penland was assistant principal at Friendswood High School between 1993-1994. Between 1994-1996 she worked as principal of Bales Intermediate School in Friendswood, Texas. Between 1996-2000 she was the principal of Arlon Seay Intermediate School with the Comal Independent School District in Spring Branch, Texas. Between 200-2003 she was the instructional coordinator for Comal ISD. Between 2003-2006 she was the principal of Blanco Elementary School. Since 2006 she has been the principal of Marlin Elementary School.