Natchez-Adams School Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis has been named as one of five finalists in a superintendent search in Lorain, Ohio.

Davis could not comment on his status in the search Monday except to say a search firm with Lorain City Schools contacted him.

&uot;I get calls from various agencies and firms,&uot; with information about jobs often, Davis said. &uot;I always try to do what I can to accommodate the people.&uot;

Davis said this was his first trip to Ohio. He viewed the trip as a short break from work and a chance to see what other school districts are doing.

&uot;I’ve seen a lot of different things we can do, I believe in our school district to help improve it,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said he did not have any other interviews scheduled and learned about his placement in the top five in Lorain just recently.

Lorain City Schools interviewed the first of the five candidates Friday and will interview the rest by Thursday, said Keith Lilly, school board president.

&uot;I think they’re all quality candidates,&uot; Lilly said.

The school board members also hope to make a decision in a few days.

&uot;I would expect by the end of this week … we’ll have a decision,&uot; Lilly said.

Davis had an interview with the public and with the Lorain City School Board Monday.

Davis said he is not looking to leave Natchez but that he had to consider what options might be best for him.

Davis has enough years in education to retire in Mississippi and is currently making about $95,000 with benefits. The position in Lorain has a starting salary of $140,000.

&uot;All those are considerations that you have to make because I have to do what’s best for me financially and for my future,&uot; Davis said.

Loraine City School has about 11,700 students as compared to about 5,000 in the Natchez-Adams School District.

Its racial makeup is 25 percent African-American, 25 percent Hispanic and 50 percent white while the Natchez-Adams School District is about 80 percent African-American and 20 percent white.

It also has about 67 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced lunch as compared to about 76 percent locally.

Lorain also struggles with its test scores and its scores &uot;are low even on urban district scales,&uot; Kelly said.