At the Sept. 13 meeting of the Zachary Community School Board, members narrowed the list of applicants vying for leadership position of Zachary schools from 11 to five.

Board members were given cards containing all 11 applicants' names and wrote a 'yes' or 'no' on each card indicating whether they wished for the applicant to be invited back for interviews Sept. 25-26.

Once board members made their choices, the list was read aloud.

The top-five vote getters received a 'yes' from all nine board members.

Those applicants invited back for interviews are:

• Michelle Clayton, of Zachary, is an education consultant and former Director of Academic Accountability and Instruction for the ZCSD from 2003-12. Clayton has a doctoral degree.

• Scott Devillier, Oscar, La., former Zachary High Principal and current Director of Operations for the district. Devillier has a master's degree in education.

• Patrick Jenkins, of Zachary, is retired military and also has a master's in education. Jenkins is the Principal of Port Hudson Career Academy and a former principal of Northwestern and Zachary Elementary.

• Philip Burchfield, of Clinton, Miss., has a doctoral degree and is superintendent of Clinton Public Schools in Hinds County, Miss.

• Alonzo Luce, of Gonzales, has a doctoral degree and has been superintendent of St. James Parish schools since 2007.

A motion was made to invite the top six applicants back for interviews, but a subsequent motion made by Scott Swilley to invite the top five defeated it.

Charles Michel, of Metarie, who received five votes, was eliminated. Michel has a doctoral degree and is the supervisor of special education for the Lafourche Parish School System.

For more on the ZCSB meeting, be sure to pick up a copy of the Sept. 19 edition of the Zachary Plainsman News on newsstands next Wednesday.