Students at Selma High School will know who their new principal is next week.

According to Dr. Angela Mangum, superintendent for Selma City Schools, the school board will vote on the school’s next principal at Tuesday’s regularly scheduled school board meeting at 6 p.m. in the school’s library.

“Everyone is excited and looking forward to having stability there and having a principal named,” Mangum said Friday.

The school’s former principal, Aubrey Larkin, resigned in early October after accepting a position with Hale County Schools. Larkin served as principal for a year and three months.

After Larkin’s resignation, Mangum said the job was listed on Teach in Alabama, a website school systems used to announce and advertise job openings.

Mangum said several people applied for the job, but the pool of candidates was narrowed down to five.

“We had some highly qualified candidates,” Mangum said.

“We have some that were very experienced and [had a] proven track record of being and effective administrators, either as a principal, [assistant principal] or both.”

Mangum said the top five candidates were interviewed by a committee made up of Selma City Schools employees.

“We have a series of questions that we ask, and there is a rubric where each candidate responds to the questions,” Mangum said.

“In addition to that, we look at the resume and the years of the experience and the degrees. The applicant is also required a portfolio of their evidence of being an effective instructional leader.”

Mangum said she is confident in the process that was used to find the right fit for Selma High School.

“We had experienced committee members. The process was very rigorous. I believe that it was as objective as it could have possibly been. I believe we looked at multiple criteria to recommend the best candidate based on everyone that applied,” Mangum said.

“Everyone had an equal opportunity to be selected, but the goal in an interview process and selection process is to get the best-qualified person for the position that would be a great fit for Selma High School.”

Mangum does not have a start date set for the new principal, but she expects them to start soon after being hired.

“The continuation of the progress that’s already under way is very important, and it’s crucial to insure that students are successful and we continue the upward trajectory that’s already under way,” Mangum said.

“It is very important for a school to have a stable leader and a permanent principal in place, so they can provide that leadership and direction and bring everyone together and really focus on goals.”