Oxford school officials still have to hire 11 people to fill all vacant positions before the beginning of the school year.

That's what interim schools Superintendent James Connelly discussed with the Board of Education during a special meeting Thursday night at Oxford High School. Connelly, who just began two weeks ago following the resignation of former Superintendent Edward Malvey, said his goal is to hire for all the vacant positions by Thursday, which is orientation day for new hires. School begins on Aug. 31.

"We shouldn't be in this position (less than two) weeks before school starts," Connelly said. He said he plans to do everything in his power to make sure everyone is hired on time, and that the board has received several applications for most positions. He said he has a meeting with three candidates today and has appointments lined up next week. He compared the hiring process to "a little bit of an assembly line" and said he doesn't like to work that way, but said "it is what is at this point."

The school board on Thursday hired Ginger Horvath-Stiehle as interim director of special services. The board also hired an English teacher. Connelly said the board has hired one other person but also received an unexpected retirement of a teacher on Thursday, so that position must be replaced.

This is not the first time the school district has been playing catch-up to fill vacant positions right before the beginning of the school year.

"Last year, we had teachers who were literally walking in with the kids on the first day of school," he said.