CHESAPEAKE — Interviews to choose the new superintendent of the Chesapeake schools begin today as candidates begin to meet with the board of education.

“We had several applications,” board president Carl Lilly said. “We have narrowed it down to three or four.”

The vacancy occurred when superintendent Dr. Scott Howard resigned in June citing no reason for leaving the job he had held for approximately five years. At the time of his resignation Howard was under a five-year contract with a base salary of $107,786 a year with annual raises of a minimum of 3 percent.

“Salary will be an issue,” Lilly said. “We want to pay a decent salary, an average salary for this area and the size of the school.”

One of the applicants is a former superintendent from Michigan and one is currently a superintendent with a district in the area. Lilly declined to give the names of the applicants.

“Most are within 100 miles,” he said.

The school board will conduct interviews today and Wednesday and would like to choose the superintendent within the next month. Lilly also said the board wants someone who has handled school construction projects. Currently the district is building a $3.1 million sports complex to replace the school’s aging football field and track.

Last week the school sold $3 million in bonds at an interest rate of 3.18 percent to finance that project. Terms for the bonds are 15 and 20 years.

“We are looking for someone who has experience for that project. We wanted one applicant outside the area and one inside the area,” Lilly said. “In some cases it might be an advantage to have someone outside the area, but it has to be the right person. We want to see all the candidates. We could make a decision before Sept. 1.”