Knowing many residents have little faith in them, the Clayton County school board is looking to hire a temporary leader to help the district try to hold on to its accreditation.

"The rationale is that there isn't confidence that the current board, given the challenges they face ,can make the proper selection," said Mark A. Elgart, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Clayton County schools headlines: • Photos: Timeline of Clayton schools' woes Union members protest Clayton school pick  Retired Marine says he's a contender for Clayton schools chief  Clayton poised to hire retired Marine as superintendent  Clayton schools regain accreditation  Clayton schools to get $25M in federal aid  • AJC editorial: Less hope Read the full report to SACS: • Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Large PDFs) Read SACS' report (PDF) Clayton County news • More Clayton news

At the recommendation of the district's search firm, the school board is planning to suspend its search for a permanent superintendent until January, school attorneys said Friday.

Instead the board will focus on hiring a "corrective superintendent" to work with attorneys to overhaul the system to come in compliance with SACS standards.

Not only was the search firm struggling to find candidates who wanted to work for a district on the verge of losing accreditation, but candidates who wanted to come work for a board that may face tough re-elections next year, said school board attorney Glenn Brock.

SACS gave the district nine mandates to meet or lose accreditation effective Sept. 1. One of those mandates was to hire a permanent superintendent.

But delaying that hire won't directly affect the district's movement on the SACS mandates, Elgart said.

"As with any of the recommendations, we're looking to see the impact of their actions and the results they achieve," he said. "Hiring a corrective superintendent could have a positive impact with results that are seen as progress. This system needs experienced leadership to help deal with the challenges."

Search firm Hazard, Young Attea & Associates recommended that the "corrective superintendent" not be interested in the permanent position, which means interim superintendent Gloria Duncan is out.

"The search firm recommended a seasoned superintendent who doesn't have any eyes on a permanent position and doesn't have to worry about pleasing anyone," Brock said.

Duncan, who has been leading the district since July when Barbara Pulliam abruptly resigned, has applied for the permanent position.

Duncan's job as interim will end once the replacement is found in a few weeks. Brock said he doesn't know what Duncan's new job will be, but she will continue to be paid the remainder of her $176,600 contract which expires in July.

The search firm referred comments to school officials. School board chairwoman Ericka Davis did not return phone calls.

Brock insisted that the board has not voted on the decision to hire a corrective superintendent and is waiting for the search firm to submit a slate of candidates before taking any formal action.