The Prince Edward County School Board will hold a public forum to receive community input concerning the next superintendent on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Members of the community are invited to meet with BWP and Associates — the board-selected search firm — to identify characteristics desired in a prospective school chief.

After gathering community input, the search firm will generate a leadership profile outlining the desirable candidate for the position.

The forum will be held at the middle school, located at 35 Eagle Drive in Farmville.

“We’re just looking for the community … to come and give us some input,” said Buffalo District Representative and Board Chairman Russell Dove. He said the board is seeking qualities and characteristics of a school chief that the community wants, or doesn’t want.

The vacancy for the position was created when Dr. David Smith

announced in December that he wouldn’t seek to renew his contract, which expires on June 30.

“(I) hope see some trends to develop the profile,” Dove said, “what the the public wants and maybe some businesses want.”

In mid-February, school board members unanimously agreed to employ BWP in the search for the division’s next superintendent while agreeing to form a search committee, consisting of Longwood University President W. Taylor Reveley IV, Dove and Commonwealth’s Attorney Megan Clark.

Dove said he wants to see the firm meet with various constituencies and members of the community, such as Centra Southside Community Hospital and Hampden-Sydney College.

According to the division, the candidate profile will be created using input from the community forum, online surveys, interviews with school board members and meeting with representatives from a number of local groups.

An online survey will be available for those unable to attend the forum, which can be accessed on the school division’s website at www.pecps.k12.va.us

Paper copies of the survey can be obtained at the public library and all Prince Edward schools beginning Tuesday.

Dove said he hopes to have the profile developed by late this month.