The search for the next superintendent of Selma City Schools is set to get underway over the next few weeks.

During a work session Tuesday, the Selma City School Board announced plans to vote on a recommendation by acting Superintendent of Education Larry DiChiara’s recommendation, which would contract with the Alabama Association of School Boards to conduct a search for his replacement.

First, we would be remissed if we didn’t start by commending DiChiara on the job he has done since the state takeover. During his short time in control, he has helped Selma City Schools take gigantic leaps forward.

However, there will be plenty of time to talk about the progress made throughout the state takeover in the future.

For now, the debate about how DiChiara’s replacement will be chosen wages on. We agree with DiChiara that sourcing the hiring out to an outside agency makes the most sense and is probably the fairest way to choose the system’s new leader.

Given the scandals and rocky situations in the school system’s past, it’s probably best to let someone from outside Selma make the decision.

Whoever the new superintendent is, he or she must be prepared to come in with the same iron first that DiChiara did.

The decision is expected to be announced in March, with the new superintendent starting June 1. We wish the system luck in its search.