LYLE — The Lyle school board will pick potential board candidates to interview at its December meeting today.

The board looks to replace former member Scott Nelson, who resigned in November as he and his family are moving to Austin.

Lyle Superintendent Jim Dusso said he is waiting to release the number of board applicants until after the board finds out.

The Lyle school board and specifically Dusso are under fire as many residents have taken issue with Dusso’s leadership since he was appointed superintendent in May. Other residents are frustrated with the public’s reaction to the school district and support Lyle’s board and administration.

The board meeting could become raucous, as residents and concerned parents and grandparents have disrupted at least two meetings this year. Mower County sheriff’s deputies removed three protesters from the November meeting and another two were asked to leave. The district sent letters to all five residents prohibiting them from attending future meetings.

The board will narrow the candidate list to five at this meeting and candidates will make their case before the board at a special session Dec. 27.

Board members will decide that day who to accept and the new board member should be sworn in at Lyle’s Jan. 9 meeting.

The board is slated to accept Dawn Block’s resignation. Block is the last of four bus drivers who started the school year working for Lyle and either quit or were fired.