The State Board of Education has narrowed the search to four candidates for Mississippi schools' superintendent.

The search has been underway 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 say they 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.