GROVES — Trustees with the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District have made their first step toward finding a permanent leader.

Interim Superintendent Jimmy Creel, who led the district as superintendent from 1999 through 2004 and was appointed to the temporary position in June after former superintendent Rodney Cavness left to work in another district, is working with trustees on getting the hiring process started, board president Darren McCutcheon said.

PN-GISD board is tentatively set to meet on Monday to hold a hearing on the proposed tax rate and the trustees will likely adjourn to executive session where they will give Creel ideas on what they are looking for in a permanent superintendent.

“We are running behind on this obviously because of Hurricane Harvey,” McCutcheon said of the search. “But it’s still OK, we’re still in good shape and need to get some momentum going and drive forward. We can assure the taxpayers of both Groves and Port Neches we will do due diligence to find the most qualified superintendent. This is something the board takes very seriously.”

Creel will not be considered for the job — which was one of the stipulations of bringing him back in. Creel’s years of experience as well as his connections across the state made him the right candidate for the temporary post, the board decided.

Once trustees agree on the criteria in what they are looking for in a superintendent, the position will be posted on the Texas Association for School Administrators page.