March 9, 2010

Two area school divisions are looking for new superintendents, and they're having a difficult time.

The search is on to replace retiring Madison County Schools superintendent Brenda Tanner. The school board says they know what kind of leader they're looking for.

"We're considering someone strong in instruction, in budgetary issues, in dealing with the public and the Board of Supervisors," board chair Jeff Early said. "They're all important factors that we'll take into consideration."

They held a private meeting Tuesday afternoon in Madison to go over applications with the Virginia School Board Association.

"The board will determine who they feel it's appropriate to interview, and we'll proceed from that," Early said.

The VSBA is aiding in the search, which has become more difficult than in years past.

"Ten, 15 years ago, we would get 120 to 150 applicants for this position," said Frank Barham, executive director of VSBA. "Now, if we get 15 to 30, we're happy."

The Madison County School Board has received 18 applications for the superintendent position -- 10 of them men and 8 women.

Barham said people don't apply because they're not willing to move their families. Also, superintendents don't stay as long as they used to.

"Now, the average tenure for a superintendent in the state of Virginia in the city is about five or six years," Barham said. "In the county, six to eight years."

Early said the board hopes to name its new superintendent by May. But they're not the only county in the midst of a superintendent search.

Fluvanna County is also looking to replace Tom Smith, who announced his retirement at a school board meeting in February.

The school board is still in its preliminary stages of replacing him. They'll discuss the search at a scheduled meeting on Wednesday. Smith's last day will be June 30.

School board members have said a timeline hasn't been established to replace him.