Four private firms and the Tennessee School Board Association are interested in helping find a new county school leader.
They submitted proposals to aid the Hamilton County School Board.
The private firms are Ray and Associates, Coleman Lew and Associates, Mcpherson Jacobson llc and Hazard Young.
Officials noted that some of the search firms have significantly more experience with larger systems of 25,000-plus.
The board is expected to trim the list to three firms next week.
There were originally six firms, but one decided to withdraw.
The board will spend at least $35,000 on the search, and board member George Ricks said it may wind up to be as much as $60,000.
Dr. Kirk Kelly is serving as the interim superintendent after Rick Smith stepped down.
The board also heard a report about bullying in the county schools.