Pending legal action from its former superintendent also brought a halt to the Selma City School Board’s selection of a search firm to select a new superintendent.

The board voted unanimously Thursday night to delay its selection of a search firm — which had been scheduled to take place at the meeting — until after a Tuesday hearing.

Board president Henry Hicks said he felt it would be a wise decision to delay a selection until the board has a clear picture of how legal action will shape up.

“Due to the fact this is going to court Tuesday, is it that urgent that we should do this tonight?” he asked. “I honestly think one or two days isn’t going to hurt. I would ask the board to allow us to take this off the agenda tonight and make a later determination on which way we are going.”

The board’s attorney, Katie Campbell, said that decision is up to the board.

“That decision is up to the board,” she said. “The board can decide to hire a firm tonight, or delay it.”

There was some confusion that a bylaw would allow the board to select a superintendent Thursday night. However, Campbell said this is not so.