The Cherokee County School Board objected Wednesday morning to suggestions at a NAACP rally Monday that “good old boy politics” and racism played a role in the selection of four finalists for the superintendent job.

The Thicketty Mountain Baptist Association, Black Ministerial Alliance and the local NAACP were among several groups represented at a press conference held to protest the board’s recent decision to exclude associate superintendent

Dr. Carlotta Redish from the list of finalists announced two weeks ago.

“The board respects that individuals, as well as community groups, may disagree with how the board conducted the search and with its selection of the finalists,” school board chairman Donnie Smith said in a press releaseWednesday. “The board strongly disagrees that it has played politics in any way. To the contrary, the board has chosen applicants that the board believes have the necessary experience and qualifications to lead the district.”

The school board selected eight candidates for interviews from an initial pool of 32 applicants.

Stafford County assistant superintendent Dr. Chris Quinn of Stafford, Va. and chief human resources officer Dr. Angela Bain from School District 5 of Lexington and Richland counties in Columbia visited the district last week. Granard Middle School Principal Dr. Mark Bunch took his turn Monday and Tuesday while Spartanburg District 2 Assistant Superintendent Dr. Quincie Moore will visit Feb. 7-8.

The board will discuss the finalists at its Feb. 8 meeting. School trustees will then make a decision on the next step in their superintendent search.

“Throughout the entire superintendent selection process, the board has sought to find that applicant who can move what is already a great district to another level,” Smith said. “While some may disagree with the finalists who have been selected, the board firmly believes that the four individuals who have been selected as finalists have the ability to move the district to a new level of greatness.

“At the same time, the board acknowledges that a number of the other applicants have significant talents and expertise. The selection of the four finalists should in no way be viewed as a negative commentary regarding those applicants who were interviewed but not selected as finalists. In that regard, the board appreciates that so many talented individuals were interested in coming to Cherokee County.”