The St. Joseph School Board of Education plans to announce its new interim superintendent Friday.

A press conference is schedule for 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Board of Education meeting room at 925 Felix St. to introduce the new interim superintendent.

Dr. Jake Long has been acting as interim superintendent since the board started the process to terminated former superintendent Dr. Fred Czerwonka earlier this year. However, as we previously reported, Long accepted a position in Arkansas and will be leaving the district to start his new position there July 1.

Czerwonka submitted his resigation last month and has also accepted a new position with a school district in Missouri’s bootheel.

The new superintendent will have a task ahead as the St. Joseph School District works to recover from a scathing state audit report that uncovered a staggering $25 million in stipends were paid over the last eight years that were “either unapproved, unauthorized or improper.” It was also estimated that total to be in excess of $40 million dating back to 2001.