Longwood University has offered to conduct a national search for free to help the Prince Edward County School Board find the next division superintendent.

The announcement came during the school board’s Jan. 13 meeting, and was met with a lukewarm response from some board members.

“As I understand it, that offer has been relayed to the school board for consideration as they think through how they wish to conduct the search process,” said Justin Pope, the chief of staff to Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV. “We are here to help if asked, whether in this capacity or any other.”

Division Superintendent Dr. David Smith told the board in December that he would not seek to renew his existing contract, which expires in June.

The board has used the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) in the past to conduct superintendent searches, according to board Chairman Russell Dove. He said a proposal was received from Longwood offering its services at no charge.

“With that being said … I have several questions,” Dove said during the meeting. “Will Longwood be able to provide a comfortable or even a better search process?”

Board member Beulah Womack said the board would have to set its own criteria as a guide if Longwood was chosen to assist with the search.

“I think they would have to allow us our own ability to choose who we want,” she said. “I’d like to do a national search.”

Board member Darin Thomas said he wouldn’t want to be beholden to one entity.

Dove said that Longwood would only be assisting with the process as the VSBA has done in the past, and the final hiring authority would rest with the school board. “We still get to make the final decision.”

Currently, the school board is considering three options, according to Dove, including using Longwood to assist in the process, using the VSBA or hiring a private search firm.

Board member Dr. Timothy Corbett said though the board has used the VSBA in the past, it has never used another search firm.

Corbett said he would like to see what different products the various search firms offer before making a final decision, exploring how much each option would cost. “Why are [Longwood] doing this for us?” he questioned.

According to Dove, Longwood has offered to aid the school system in the

search process because of the university’s desire to make the county school division the choice for their faculty and staff.

“I’m willing to give it a try,” Dove said.

Corbett said if that was the intention of the university, he would like to have a statement coming from them to that effect.

“I don’t think that’s Longwood’s job,” said board member Sherry Honeycutt. “They’re going to be winging it.”

Honeycutt said she had respect for Longwood and what it’s contributed to the local community, and added that the VSBA and private search firms are professional organizations that specialize in such searches. 

Honeycutt recommended listening to what all three firms had to say before settling on a final decision.

“Longwood is eager to provide any help we can to assist the Prince Edward School Board in finding a great next leader for the county schools,” said Pope. “When they spoke recently … Reveley asked the chairman of the school board if there was anything we could do to help. One idea that came up was … offering to serve as a free search consultant to the process, to try to tap some of his national networks to build a strong pool of candidates for consideration.”

Dove said Longwood searches for higher education leaders all the time.

Dove said he intends to speak to representatives from Longwood, the VSBA and a private search firm about making presentations to the board before a final decision is made.

A new superintendent must be in place approximately 180 days from the time Smith departs, Dove said.