Though school hasn’t started at the new James Clemens High School in eastern Limestone County, its principal may accept a new job out of state.

Published media reports this week revealed Dr. John Green is one of two finalists for a superintendent position in Jackson County, Ga. Prior to accepting the position at JCHS, Green served as area superintendent for Gwinnett County Schools in Georgia.

Green said he didn’t know if or when he’ll receive a firm offer, adding the system is legally required to post the position for two weeks, but can take “as long as they want” to choose a candidate. However, the start date for the position is July 1, so he anticipates the system will make a decision in short order.

Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler said should Green accept the Georgia job, the principal position would be posted in accordance to state law “very quickly.”

Green said the position in Georgia became available last fall, but added the process “takes a while.” He said while he’s happy at JCHS, he said the superintendent job would be a good opportunity.

“We don’t know yet if it’s something that will take place or not, but it feels good to be considered,” he said. “I’m in a great situation right now, so it’s a win-win. At some point I’ve got to settle in and decide what I want to do.”

He said Jackson County is adjacent to where he previously worked in Gwinnett County and that he’s familiar with people who live and work there. He said the Jackson County school system is also very similar to what exists in Madison — two high schools and a growing district.

Green said Jackson County is also very similar to Madison County in the respect that there is a county and two city school systems, but all work well together.

He said while not all educators aspire to become superintendent, it is a personal goal of his, adding it is the top of k-12 leadership experience.

“I wasn’t necessarily looking for that,” he said. “It wasn’t (a position) that was open when I committed to opening James Clemens. The process takes a long time and I didn’t know if it would evolve.”

While he waits to hear word, Green said he’ll continue to devote his time to ensuring JCHS opens this fall without a hitch. He said 95 percent of the staff has now been hired, including all head coaches for sports teams, department chairs, teacher leads and the administrative team.

He said the next step will be to iron out the move-in details once construction wraps up and working out staff development time for the summer. On Friday night, the school’s football team will play a spring game.

“We really are on schedule as if we had already been in existence,” Green said. “It’s just been a great joy to work with Dr. Fowler, the school board and the folks in Madison. If (the superintendent position) doesn’t work out, I feel pretty good about my future at James Clemens.”

Fowler described Green an intelligent, organized self-starter who has a “passion and vision for the school.” He added he’s not surprised another candidate would be interested in a candidate with Green’s background and professional abilities.

He described Green’s possible leaving as “bittersweet,” because while Madison City Schools wants ambitious employees, other districts want them, too.

“If he leaves I am sure that he will leave a part of himself in Madison and that he will take a part of Madison,” Fowler said.

The Jackson Herald Today reported the other finalist for the superintendent job is Dale Gaddis, area assistant superintendent for the Cobb County School System. The newspaper also reported it filed a lawsuit against the Jackson County Board of Education last month for refusing to release the names of the finalists.