TUNICA COUNTY, Miss. — The intersection of Highway 61 and Prichard Road in Tunica was flooded with campaign signs Wednesday, including those running for Tunica County Superintendent.

“What you have is — you have three people that are running for an office that does not exist because of the state takeover,” said Pat Ross, the chief school performance officer with the Mississippi Department of Education.

The MDE wiped the school board and superintendent positions out in July.

However, the Mississippi Secretary of State decided to keep the candidates on the ballot because absentee ballots were already distributed.

“We got a lot of rebuilding to do,” said Robert Hall, a former teacher of 30 years in Tunica County.

He said he is glad the state took over after former Superintendent Steve Chandler, who resigned, “ruined” the district.

Hall said current teachers are optimistic.

“They’re in a wait-and-see mode,” he said. “They don’t know what the new superintendent is going to bring — the new conservator.”

Margie Pulley, who is running the district, was too busy for an interview Wednesday. Still, Pulley told WREG her job is to improve student achievement and fix what is wrong with the schools.

The state is looking at hiring two of the candidates to help run schools in the district.

“If those two people can make that school district better, we want them on our team,” Ross said.

Teachers in the county start work next week on Monday, and students begin classes Thursday.