Dr. Carl Davis apparently is putting his cards on the table; now the members of the Natchez-Adams School District’s board of trustees must decide how to respond.

We learned this week that Natchez’s superintendent is a finalist for the superintendent’s post in Lorain, Ohio. It is the second time in less than six months that Davis has been among the top candidates for another superintendent’s job.

With about a year left on his contract, Davis has made no bones about his willingness to consider other opportunities. &uot;It’s a financial decision,&uot; he said on Wednesday.

And, in large part it is. When a superintendent has a chance to earn an additional $50,000 in another post, it’s difficult to fault his interest in the job.

What we can question is the way in which the coming of these other opportunities is handled. School board members, administrators and district employees – not to mention the students, parents and the community – need to have confidence in the focus and commitment of the superintendent. If the superintendent is actively seeking other opportunities – even if no one faults his desire to boost his salary – both the school board and the community deserve a professional, upfront explanation and, in turn, the opportunity to begin searching for a replacement now.

Ultimately, the school board and this community have the greatest stake in the future of the school district. We will be the ones to reap the benefits of its successes or to compensate for its failures.

And in order to build those success we must play the game with all our cards on the table.

Let’s hope that is happening now.