A deadline looms this week for members of the Selma City School Board to select a superintendent.

By law, the school board has until Nov. 1 to make that selection, board attorney Katy Campbell said.

“We are cutting it close,” she said.

The law changed this year, forcing school systems across the street to employ an interim superintendent for 120 days, instead of having a deadline, before hiring a permanent superintendent.

Selma hired Don Jefferson as its interim. Jefferson is one of the candidates on a short list of five selected by consultants for the school board to consider. School board members will meet Monday at 6 p.m. in the central office on Broad Street to decide if they will interview any of the finalists or just appoint someone.

“How can you do it?” asked school board member Holland Powell. “How can you interview and hire people with two days notice?”

On Thursday, the school board accepted the recommendations of its consultant, N&P, which made them public Oct. 5.

Those candidates are:

• David Hobdy, Louisville — Hobdy is director of support services and assistant superintendent of Barbour County Schools. He has worked as principal at Barbour County High School (2001-10) and Clayton Elementary School in Barbour County (2000-01). Hobdy taught at Baker Hill Elementary School in Barbour County (193-2000). He received his bachelor’s from Alabama State University (1990), his master’s from Troy University-Dothan (2000) and has completed all but his dissertation from Nova Southeastern University (2009).

• Donald G. Jefferson, Selma — He works for the Alabama Department of Education. He has worked as a principal at Selma High School (1993-99), vice principal at Daleville High School (1990-93)and assistant principal at Elba High School and Junior High (1988-90). Jefferson has taught physical education and coached at Enterprise High School (1984-88) and at Opelika Junior High and High School (1983-84); and has taught physical education, world history and coached at Tuskegee Institute High School (1982-83). Jefferson has a bachelor’s from Alabama State University (1975), a master’s from Alabama State University (1989); and educational specialist from Troy State University – Dothan (no date given) and a doctorate in education from Alabama State University (2006).

• Daphyne Long Smith, Memphis, Tenn. — She is an adjunct professor at Union University, Germantown, Tenn. (2007-present) and is principal at Raleigh-Bartlett Meadows Elementary School, Memphis (1995-present). Smith also has worked as a speech pathologist at Pediatric Therapy Services (2005-08), an adjunct at ITT Technical College (2006) and as assistant principal at Graves Elementary School (1992-95) all in Memphis. Smith has a bachelor’s from Tennessee State University (1975), a master’s from the University of Memphis (1978) and a doctorate in education from the University of Memphis (1985).

• Lewis E. Washington Jr., Wetumpka — He is executive director of high schools for Montgomery Public Schools (2007-10). Washington has worked as a principal at Montgomery Public Schools (1999-2007), Macon County Schools in Tuskegee (1998-99) and Opelika City Schools as an assistant principal and coach (1990-98). He has taught at Brewton City Schools (1987-90) and Elmore County Schools (1984-87). Washington earned his bachelor’s at Alabama Christian College (1984) and his master’s at Troy University (1992).

• Eli Welch III, Lawrenceville, Ga. — He is principal at Westside Middle School, Winder, Ga. (2003-present). He also has been principal at Selma High School (2001-03). Welch was a teacher at Cloverdale Junior High School in Montgomery (1997-91). He has taught at Argosy University in Atlanta (2008). Welch earned his bachelor’s from Alabama State University (1996), a master’s in education (2000), a specialist in education (2006) both from Alabama State University and a doctorate in education from Argosy University (2007).