ELWOOD­ — A new leader for Elwood Community Schools is expected to be named within 10 days.

The Elwood School Board expects to name a new superintendent at its meeting on Nov. 17, board president Richard Herndon said. He would not disclose how many people applied for the position or how many candidates the board interviewed during a process that began more than a month ago.

“We had several excellent candidates,” Herndon said. “We’re really pleased with the response and the candidates.”

Elwood Superintendent Tom Austin informed the board earlier this year that he would be retiring after nearly 15 years at the helm of the school corporation with 1,786 students.

“I’ve been here since ’73,” Austin said, hiring in as a high school teacher and moving up the ranks. “It’s time to get off this treadmill and do something else for a while.”

Austin said he intended to remain with the school system through the end of the school year to help the new superintendent adjust. That’s something Herndon said the board welcomed.

“He’s going to help us with the transition, and that’s going to help us coming in, and we hope for a smooth transition,” he said.

Austin said he had not been involved in the search for a new superintendent, but noted that “the number of applicants we had was surprisingly high.”

Herndon said the school system used the services of the University Search Committee. That group, which includes representatives of Ball State, Indiana, Indiana State and Purdue universities, offers free assistance to public school systems in soliciting and selecting superintendents.

Herndon said the board planned to have a greeting and reception for the new superintendent once that person is selected.

“That’s how we’re going to introduce the new person to the community,” Herndon said.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com.