Come Tuesday there will be a new principal named at Southside High School.

That’s the verdict of Dallas County School System Superintendent Wayne May. If indeed a new principal is named, it should ease the uncertainty that has surrounded that position since former principal James Parker recently retired.

The process of finding a suitable candidate, May added, has not been easy.

May said that he, along with assistant superintendents Freeman Waller and Don Willingham, had interviewed more than 25 applicants for the position.

The process lasted over half the summer and occupied almost the entire time of all committee members.

“We are really trying to find the best possible candidate we possibly can for this position,” May said. “However, it has not been an easy process.”

During the Dallas County Board of Education meeting Thursday, May said the committee had finally narrowed the choice down to five candidates. However, some of those candidates had already accepted other job offers or had personal conflicts and could not accept the position, he added.

“I am concerned about students at Southside,” May said during the board meeting. “I have a heart for these children, and these children are definitely concerned because we couldn’t name someone for this position.”

Willie Jackson, a parent at Southside who addressed board members during the meeting, urged that Gary Crum, the principal at Five Points Elementary, be chosen as the new principal. Many of those attending the meeting applauded Jackson’s remarks.

Jackson said he had a petition with 60 signatures asking for Crum’s appointment.

Not everyone agreed with that choice, however. Crum is at the center of a controversy involving deposits of school funds at Five Points that were not made in a timely manner after he became principal at the school.

The late deposits were reported after an audit was done on the Dallas County School System by the state Department of Examiners of Public Accounts.

During the meeting Jackson also pointed out a number of other problems that plague Southside, including a shortage of janitorial staff, tenured teachers and coaches for athletic programs.

On Friday, Jackson met with May, Waller and Southside parent teacher organization leader Connell Towns to discuss those problems.

“The meeting went extremely well,” said Jackson, “and a lot of the problems have been addressed. I also think our superintendent is doing whatever he can to address the problems.”

When asked about the meeting, May praised Jackson and Towns, saying that “both always put the interests of the children at Southside first.”

Jackson, however, said he still believes that Crum deserves to chosen as the new principal.

“I have known him for many years and grew up with him,” said Jackson. “Parents are confident that he can do the job and kids respect Gary Crum. I also prayed about the situation and God has put in my heart to help him to become the next principal.”

When asked about the allegations made against Crum, Jackson said that, after discussing the matter with board member Bill Minor, both agreed that it did not qualify as a criminal offense.

“He [Minor] felt that there was no reason for [Crum] not to be appointed into this position,” Jackson said. “I trust [Minor’s] judgment.”

Neither Minor nor Crum could be reached for comment.