On Wednesday, BWP and Associates made its pitch to the Prince Edward County School Board, seeking to act as the division’s consultant in the search for a new superintendent.

The search could cost as much as $13,500 if the firm were selected as the search consultant.

According to E. Wayne Harris, an associate with BWP, the Illinois-based educational leadership search firm has conducted over 800 searches across the nation.

The firm is currently in the process of completing searches for superintendents in Chesterfield and Petersburg, Harris told school board members during their regular Wednesday meeting.

“We come to you with a vast amount of experience,” he said. “As I said, we have

a national reach far beyond Virginia because of our association with other retired superintendents and those who do searches.”

The firm’s process is customized specifically to each school division, said Harris. “We identify candidates who match and we present those candidates to you,” he said. “We don’t make decisions if you choose us to assist with you, you are the decision makers.”

Longwood University President W. Taylor Reveley IV has offered a free nationwide search on behalf of the college. Last week, board members heard from Reveley, along with the Virginia School Board Association, which would charge about $5,500 to conduct the search.

Division Superintendent Dr. David Smith announced in December that he wouldn’t seek to renew his contract, which expires in June.

BWP would only make recommendations to the school board, which is outlined in a four-step plan.

First, Harris said the search firm would gather specifications to create a leadership profile utilizing data from open community forums, online surveys, interviews with school board members and meeting with representatives of various local groups. Next, he said the recruitment phase would begin and the announcement would be advertised using national publications, websites, through personal contacts and nominations from an extensive network.

During the assessment phase, formal and informal reference checks are conducted, and finally the selection phase takes place.

“Our focus clearly is [to] match and fit [the] profile for Prince Edward County,” Harris said.

He said approximately four to six qualified candidates will be presented to the school board from the total number of applicants.

“It is your decision to determine who from that slate you interview,” said Harris. “We will provide information and materials to assist the board.”

Harris recommended that the school board conduct a confidential search.

“Why do people want confidentiality?” asked Hampden District Representative Beulah Womack.

Kevin Castner, another BWP associate, responded, saying confidentiality opens the door for a higher-quality pool of candidates. “The public is only going to see half of what the board is going to see,” he said. “There are a number of people that might present themselves very well, but their references don’t necessarily back up how they might present themselves.”

Castner reiterated that the school board was in charge of the decision to hold a public forum.

“Cost is very significant,” said Leigh District Representative Dr. Timothy Corbett. “I’d like for you to tell us what would make you stand out.”

Harris said he and Castner have been successful 13 times in bringing forward final candidates.

Castner said the price of the search varies based on the size of the school division.

Prospect District Representative Darin Thomas said he asking about price was a fair question, due to the fact that previous presentations from Longwood and the Virginia School Board Association openly expressed costs.

Castner said BWP’s proposal was valued at $13,500.

If a decision is made within the next couple of weeks, Castner said the division could possibly have a new superintendent in place by June.

“I’d rather take my time and do the process right,” responded Buffalo District Representative and Board Chairman Russell Dove.

Dove said he would like a decision to be made at the Feb. 10 work session concerning the selection of a superintendent search consultant.