The Selma City School Board will take the first step in the search for a new superintendent during a special called meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday after its work session.

The meeting, school board president Henry Hicks said, will be for the purpose of selecting a superintendent search firm.

“They’ll come and do their presentations, and money will be the biggest factor,” Hicks said. “We want to find the cheapest one we can. They’ll present to us (Tuesday) night.”

During the school board’s previous search, which led to the hiring of Dr. Donald Jefferson, a consulting firm headed by researcher Byron B. Nelson Jr. was used.

Nelson’s list included Jefferson along with four other candidates. The other candidates included:

David Hobdy, Louisville

Daphyne Long Smith, Memphis

Lewis E. Washington Jr., Wetumpka

Eli Welch III, Lawrenceville, Ga.

During a January meeting, the school board unanimously approved motions to announce a vacancy and approve the proposed time line for posting and searching for a superintendant, as well as a motion for the board’s attorney, Katy Campbell, to be authorized to send out requests and proposals for a search firm.

The final motion also allowed the attorney to be authorized to send a letter to the state superintendent of education requesting the extension to July 1 to fill the vacancy.

As of Tuesday, Hicks said the board has not heard from the state school board on the status of its extension.

“We have not heard anything from the state department as of yet,” he said. “We are hoping to hear something in the next couple of days.”