The Selma City Schools Board of Education has certainly faced its fair share of tough times the past few months.

They have entered the 2007-08 school year without a chief financial officer to direct the budgeting process. At the same time, they are on an executive search for a school superintendent.

Though these are tough times, it gives the board the opportunity to make some critical decisions about who will lead the school system into a more progressive future.

N&P Educational Assocites is planning to deliver five applicants to the board for the superintendent position.

The board should choose the person best qualified for the position – good old boy politics has no place in this decision.

They should hire someone with proven leadership who can get Selma High School and C.H.A.T. Academy back on track in making AYP.

They need a person who can move the system forward and lead Selma City Schools into the 21st century of learning.

At least one board member said she was “appalled” by conditions at Selma High School on the first day of school.

Why is that the case? If there are four or five custodians on staff, there’s no reason there shouldn’t be paper towels in a clean restroom.

It is one small example of how everything rises and falls on leadership. And this is the perfect opportunity for the Selma City Schools Board of Education to make a tough decision and move the system in the right direction.