Superintendent Hunt Narrows

PASADENA —  The Pasadena Unified School District board moved closer to picking a new district superintendent Thursday when it whittled down its list of internal applicants from four to one, board President Anne Pursel said.

Pursel declined to name the remaining candidate, saying the board wants to have further discussions with the candidate before making any contract decision.

But at least one board member has said Joseph Linscomb, Pasadena’s deputy superintendent for instruction who is serving as acting superintendent, is a likely candidate for the job.

On Tuesday, the board is expected to decide whether to make the candidate an offer or expand its search to a state or national level.

Board member Elbie Hickambottom, who has criticized the board’s decision to look at internal candidates first, said at Thursday’s meeting that he still favors expanding the search to a state or national level, Pursel said.

The district is seeking a replacement for Phillip Jordan, who retired from the $91,000-a-year post last year.

In January, Pasadena Unified also lost one of its two assistant superintendents. Robert Sampieri left to take the No. 2 job in the Chicago Unified School District.