It was the same story, different chapter Wednesday afternoon as the Troy City School Board interviewed its third superintendent candidate.

The board was one member short during the interview at City Hall.

Member John Parker was ill and not able to attend, but board president Ron Pierce said his absence would not affect the fairness of the interview.

"He was able to watch it on television and we were well aware he would be absent," Pierce said.

He said the only difference in being present and being absent was that Parker was unable to ask questions.

The candidate in the hot seat Wednesday was Joe Walters, principal of Crestline Elementary School in Hartselle.

"It was good to see a good school system and how it operates," he said.

Walters said that even though he wasn't able to see how the school operates with students, he said this time of year when improvements and changes are being made for the next year is when "you can really see the nuts and bolts of it."

"The board asked appropriate questions and they did a good job of showing they have the interests of the school and the city in mind," he said.

Before Walters became a principal, he spent 10 years working in the central office.

"Many of the jobs a superintendent does or oversees I've done," he said.

He said the Troy community and school system is similar in size to what he has worked with in Hartselle.

Board member Doug Patterson said each candidate the board has interviewed this week has been well qualified.

"Each candidate brings something new to the table," he said.

"We've been privileged to have three capable candidates and I feel we have a good group to choose from."

Pierce also feels comfortable with the interviews and is looking forward to the final one.

"It was another great interview today," he said.

"It's going to be a tough decision."

He said all the candidates have been prepared and came to Troy having already researched the school system.

SouthTrust Bank furnished a reception after the interview.

The board interviews William Capehart from Ashland, Ky., today at 2 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.

Capehart is the superintendent of Boyd County Public Schools in Ashland and has spent over 30 years in the public school system.

On two separate occasions Capehart served as the West Virginia Department of Education's Assistant State Director of Special Education.

Like the previous three, Capehart's interview will be broadcast live on Troy Cable Channel 52.