LINDEN – The Linden Board of Education met Friday with their top three choices for Superintendent of Education, but sent them all back to their respective districts without a job offer.

Joyce Yeager, Linden Board of education Chair, said the Board was waiting on the results of a state background check before extending an offer.

“We were looking for (the background check results) earlier this week,” Yeager said, “but we want to verify everything before we move forward.”

Yeager called the checks “routine” and said the Board was waiting on information about all three candidates.

Even with the setback, Yeager remained hopeful that the search is nearing zero hour, adding that she hoped the Board would have the information in hand and could work toward making a hire by Wednesday.

Clarence Jackson, principal of Demopolis Middle School; Randy Thomley, principal of Winfield Elementary School and Dr. Tyrone Smith, director of The Opportunity Academy at Riggins School in the Birmingham City Schools system are all under consideration for the vacancy created by Scott Collier’s retirement.