The Hamilton County School Board will hear proposals from three search firms in the quest for a new school superintendent.
In balloting by school board members on Thursday, the top picks were Coleman Lew & Associates of Charlotte, N.C., and McPherson & Jacobson of Omaha, Neb., along with the Tennessee School Boards Association.
They will be asked to make presentations to the board.
Chairman Jonathan Welch said he wants that to take place within the next two weeks.
Coleman Lew & Associates has a fixed fee of $60,000, while McPherson & Jacobson is at $26,900 but can go up to $41,700. The TSBA says it can do the job for $30,000.
TSBA got four votes, while the other two got six votes each.
Ray & Associates of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a fee of $35,000, got two votes as did Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates of Schaumburg, Ill., which charges $49,000.
Dr. Kirk Kelly is the interim superintendent, who was named after Rick Smith stepped down.