The Lynchburg City Schools Ad Hoc Superintendent Search Committee, tasked with identifying and vetting candidates to replace Dr. Crystal Edwards, provided their first update on the search process. The Committee began the process to enlist a search firm to help identify candidates for the position and approved a communications strategy to provide regular updates to the public.
The Committee first met on Sept. 16, 2024, and discussed their commission, search ethics, and avenues for carrying out the search. They then started the process to hire a search firm to help identify candidates for the Superintendent position, taking the following steps:
- Sept. 17: The Lynchburg City School Board approved the Committee’s recommendation that a search firm be used to assist with the candidate identification process and that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for search-firm services be administered through Lynchburg City’s procurement office.
- Sept. 23: Committee co-chairs Dr. Michael Nilles and Dr. Mark Tinsley followed up with the city procurement office regarding the RFP process.
- Sept. 30: The Committee met to determine criteria for the search-firm selection.
- Oct. 8: The LCS School Board approved these criteria for the search-firm selection.
- Oct. 10: Dr. Tinsley provided the city procurement office with the Board-approved criteria for search-firm selection.
- Currently, the city procurement office is drafting the RFP for public distribution. Once publicly distributed, the RFP will remain active for two to three weeks, at the conclusion of which time the Committee and School Board will evaluate the proposals and make a final selection of the firm that best meets the needs of our school division.
At their latest meeting, the Committee discussed and approved its public-communications strategy, which lays out a plan to provide regular updates to LCS staff and community members.
The Committee’s goal is for the School Board to receive the widest range of input from all stakeholders for establishing the criteria for Superintendent selection, including input from parents, teachers, school staff, school administrators, and members of City Council and City staff. Multiple opportunities are planned for LCS voices to provide input into the selection process. Ultimately, the hiring of the superintendent is the School Board’s responsibility.
Additional updates will be provided as the process develops. The Committee co-chairs will provide regular updates to the School Board at every public meeting and work session.