The search for a new Spain Park High School principal is down to five candidates after a sixth candidate removed his name from consideration.

Internal candidates for the job include Ron Dodson, director of secondary education for Hoover City Schools; Jennifer Hogan, a current science teacher at Hoover High School; and Amanda Hood, an assistant principal at Spain Park.

External candidates are Stan Cox, principal of Opelika High School; and Chris Shaw, principal at Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga.

Hoover City Schools spokesperson Jason Gaston said Ed Nichols, an assistant superintendent of Decatur City Schools, removed his name from consideration for family reasons.

The search committee, which consists of Superintendent Andy Craig, faculty and staff from Hoover City Schools and parents from the community, has completed interviews with the candidates and will meet again in the next few days to discuss the interviews, Gaston said.

“Hopefully the superintendent will have a recommendation for the board within the next two or three weeks, whether it’s at a special called meeting or at the May 10 regularly scheduled meeting,” Gaston said.

The committee was originally expected to give a recommendation at the April 12 Board of Education meeting, but the committee was not able to meet to discuss interview results before the board meeting.

Current Spain Park Principal Billy Broadway’s retirement will be effective June 30.