(a) Beginning at the time of expiration of the current term of office of the Cullman County Superintendent of Education, and thereafter, the Cullman County Superintendent of Education shall be appointed by the Cullman County Board of Education in accordance with Chapter 9 of Title 16. The appointed superintendent shall take office on the date prescribed by general law, and shall serve for a term of two years to four years from the first day of July next succeeding his or her appointment. Any vacancy in the office of county superintendent of education in the time interim between the vacation of the office due to expiration of the term of the prior county superintendent of education or due to other causes and the assuming of office by the first county superintendent of education appointed pursuant to this section shall be filled for the duration of the unexpired term by the county board of education in the manner prescribed by general law. The appointment shall terminate on the date the first county superintendent of education appointed pursuant to this section assumes office. The compensation of the interim appointee shall be set by the county board of education and the interim appointee shall serve at the pleasure of the county board of education.

(b) The Cullman County Superintendent of Education shall possess all the qualifications prescribed for county superintendents of education by the general laws of the state, shall possess all the powers granted by the general laws of the state, and shall perform and discharge all the duties of county superintendents of education prescribed by the general laws of the state.

(c) The Cullman County Superintendent of Education shall receive compensation in an amount as set by the Cullman County Board of Education.