The purpose of the conference call was to address the request of Ray and Associates to extend the deadline for applications for the position of Commissioner of Education. The request was received after close of business on May 26, 2011, and the Board needed to take action in order to continue the search for candidates for the position of Commissioner of Education. The application period was scheduled to end on May 25, 2011, however, the recommendation of the search firm was that the period be extended to June 6, 2011. The present Commissioner’s resignation was submitted effective early June 2011. In order to timely complete the search for the Commissioner of Education, an emergency meeting was necessary to address the request of the search firm. The emergency meeting was also necessary because the State Board meeting to interview applicants for the Commissioner was scheduled for June 1, 2011. The action of the Board was to grant the request of Ray and Associates to extend the deadline for applications for the position of Commissioner of Education to June 6, 2011 with interviews to be conducted on June 20th at the Tampa Airport Marriott. The Board also agreed that an additional emergency meeting should be scheduled to select an interim Commissioner of Education.