Ray Hammett, principal of Westside Elementary School, was tapped as the interim superintendent for Polk School District Tuesday night.

Hammett will take over when current Superintendent Marvin Williams retires on Nov. 30.

He was selected in a 5-2 vote with board members Susan Berry, Tim Turner, Andy Fairel, Tara O'Neal and Chuck Thaxton voting for and Jane Holbrooks and Dan Forsyth voting against.

Hammett is a native of Jacksonville Ala. He was hired as principal of Westside Elementary on July 11, 2012. Hammett has been an educator for 35 years.

"Since I will probably only be there a few months, he main thing I will be doing in the superintendent's office will be to make sure everything runs normally," Hammett said in a followup interview.

Hammett stated one of the stipulations in his contract was that he be given the option to return as the principal of Westside Elementary once a permanent superintendent is found.

Chairman Chuck Thaxton said Hammett will be paid at a pro-rated salary of $102,000 based on the number of months of work he does in the position. If he returns to Westside Elementary, it will be at his previous salary, Thaxton said.

The school board is currently working alongside the Georgia School Board Association to find a superintendent to replace the outgoing Marvin Williams.