Interim Schools Chancellor Harold Levy, the front-runner, is facing competition for the job of permanent chancellor.
The Board of Education is considering seven others who have applied for the job:
* Anthony Cavana, superintendent of Long Island’s Plainview-Old Bethpage schools and former deputy superintendent of Manhattan’s District 1.
* Jerome Clark, vice president of Bowie State University in Maryland.
* Richard Lapointe, president of the nonprofit Laubach Literary Organization.
* Andre Hornsby, superintendent of Yonkers schools.
* Dwight Pfenning, superintendent of Morris schools.
* David Sawyer, superintendent of the Brevard County schools in Florida.
* Arthur Stellar, head of Kingston, N.Y., schools.
An eighth candidate took his hat out of the ring yesterday.
Veteran Brooklyn District 21 Superintendent Donald Weber said he was withdrawing his name to support his current boss, Levy.
Weber, who was named New York State school superintendent of the Year in 1999, said he applied for the job before Levy announced he wanted to keep it.
“I think I’m highly qualified. But I’m supporting the current chancellor in his quest for the position,” Weber said.
Students from District 21 schools registered among the highest reading scores in the city when compared against other schools with similar poverty levels and demographics, board figures show.
Board officials stressed their consultants are reaching out to other prominent educators.