<?php
class tables_issues {
  ...
  function status__renderCell(Dataface_Record $record){
  
    Dataface_JavascriptTool::getInstance()
      ->import('editable_status.js');
      
    $options = array(
      'Select...',
      'Open',
      'Closed',
    );
    $currVal = $record->val('status');
    $out = array();
    $out[] = '<select class="status-drop-down" 
      data-record-id="'.htmlspecialchars($record->getId()).'">';
    foreach ( $options as $opt ){
      $selected = ($currVal === $opt) ? 'selected':'';
      $out[] = '<option value="'.htmlspecialchars($opt).'" '.$selected.'>'
        .htmlspecialchars($opt).'</option>';
      
    }
    $out[] = '</select>';
    return implode("\n", $out);
  }
  
  ...
  
}