The Lafayette Parish School Board will meet tonight to determine the voting method that will be used to narrow the field of candidates for superintendent that currently includes St. Mary Superintendent Donald Aguillard.

Currently there are nine contenders looking to replace Burnell Lemoine when his contract expires in December.

Board members could utilize a point system or a voting majority to choose their top three contenders for the slot. Published reports indicate the board tends to vote in set blocs, making a straight up or down vote ripe for abuse.

The meeting to determine a course of action for voting is slated for 6:30 p.m. No word has been given on when the actual vote will take place.

Meanwhile, the field of candidates continues to whittle itself down on its own.

Rapides Parish Superintendent Gary Jones withdrew his name from consideration Wednesday.

In addition to Aguillard, remaining contenders for the position include Pat Cooper, Craig Fiegel, Dr. Walter Gonsoulin Jr., Luis Gonzalez, Sheila Guidry, Katherine “Katie” Landry, John Pate and Maria Pitre-Martin.