Hamilton public school board director Chris Spence is being considered for the Toronto public school job.

The Toronto Star reports that Spence is a candidate for the job that has been open for a year. But Toronto officials say it's unlikely any choice will be made before the end of November.

Sources say the search committee, comprising seven trustees, considered several applicants, including Spence, who moved to Hamilton from Toronto. However, two stood out: Rudy Crew, who led Florida's Miami-Dade school board, and a dean of education at a Canadian university.

Just recently, the board was seriously considering a dean of education at a Canadian university, sources say, but then learned he didn't have the teaching experience the education ministry requires.

Board chair John Campbell admits the ministry specifications "have thrown a monkey wrench" into a few candidacies, but there is still a shortlist of contenders. It's unlikely, however, anyone would be hired before the end of November.

Candidates are required to have five years of teaching experience, have Ontario supervisory officer papers or be qualified for them, and a master's degree, said Campbell.

"We were initially under the impression that there would be a little more flexibility around the qualifications, but a June memo from the ministry made it very clear who would be qualified and who wouldn't," Campbell said.

Current director Gerry Connelly – who is ready to retire but has said she will stay on – was appointed three years ago as an interim leader. A search committee was struck a year ago, and everyone had expected a new director to take over when school began last month.

The Toronto District School Board is one of North America's largest boards, with a $2 billion budget, 560 schools and 284,000 students.

The first director, Marguerite Jackson, left under a cloud of controversy over a $360,000 severance package.

Her successor, David Reid – who was hired within months – was appointed in 2002, but left after three years amid strained relations with trustees and parents. The board continued to pay his salary, about $230,000 a year, until 2007 when he was reassigned to do research. Connelly was his replacement.

Crew was seen as a strong contender, but he was tied up in politics at his board, sources said. As for the ivory tower candidate, the ministry said his time spent in public school classrooms was lacking.