THOMASVILLE — A new Cairo High School principal could be approved today.

The Grady County Board of Education will hear a recommendation at its May meeting from Superintendent Dr. Tommy Pharis to approve David McCurry, a current assistant principal at the school, for the position.

“We received 21 applicants,” Pharis said Monday. “From those, we selected eight we wanted to interview and eventually interviewed six. Five of these applicants were people currently employed in Grady County.”

He said the system does not always hire teachers or administrators from within, either; the best candidate for the job is selected, Pharis said, even if that means the position goes to an applicant from another area.

Current Principal Tim Helms submitted his resignation March 26 in order to accept a position as deputy superintendent in Houston County (Perry). He will finish out the 2007-08 school year before leaving CHS.

The school system began advertising the position at the end of March and the last day to submit applications was April 11.

“You want someone who has balance and the knowledge and experience to lead the school,” Pharis said of the selection process. “You want someone who is going to do the best job for the students in the system.”

The interview process took approximately two weeks. Those on the interview committee were Pharis, Martha Fowler (assistant superintendent for teaching and learning) Natalie Zajac (special education director) and Noni Hunter (social services director).

“We needed people with experience and knowledge of our school system,” Pharis explained. “They needed to know the needs of our high school students and program needs and have a commitment to the vision we have for our students.”

This is McCurry’s fourth year at the high school, but he has spent several years in education.

“I’ve worked at four high schools and, at Cairo High School, there are great people and great students,” he said. “I think it is an honor to be considered for the position.”