JACKSON – For now both Northampton County Schools assistant superintendents will be assuming the role of superintendent.

On Wednesday, in a special called meeting of the Northampton County Board of Education, board members collectively voted to split the duties of superintendent between Assistant Superintendents Kelvin Edwards and Phil Matthews until the selection of a superintendent has been made.

Board of Education Chairwoman Catherine Moody said both Edwards and Matthews will be taking on each of the areas currently under their care.

Edwards will be handling human resources and curriculum, while Matthews’s duties will involve auxiliary services.

“I believe (Superintendent) Dr. (Kathi) Gibson has done so much to keep us on track (with grades and AYP),” Moody said. “We’ve put the people in place to continue to do that.”

Meanwhile the search is still on for Dr. Gibson’s replacement.

Dr. Gibson announced her retirement at the board’s December 5 meeting. The 29-year education veteran has been with the school system for almost three years.

In an emotional speech at the meeting, Dr. Gibson said she enjoyed her stay at Northampton County.

She reportedly is retiring to spend time with her family. Dr. Gibson’s retirement will be effective January 1, 2008.

Moody said Dr. Gibson will be returning to Northampton County in February or March

to volunteer with the School Turnaround Program, one of the initiatives the superintendent helped bring to the district through a $1 million grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.