Henrico School Board sets timeline for process surrounding search for new superintendent

The Henrico School Board has begun the process for hiring a new superintendent for the school division, and wants the public to be part of the search. At a special public meeting Tuesday evening, the Board set a timeline for the process, with a target of having a new superintendent in place by July 1. The Board also announced a series of public input opportunities, including a survey on the qualities the Board should seek in a new superintendent.

“Hiring a new superintendent is the most important task a school board can take on,” said Michelle “Micky” Ogburn, School Board chair and Three Chopt District representative. “It’s like finding the captain of the ship.”

The anonymous survey is one way to gather input from families, Henrico Schools staff and members of the community on choosing the division’s new leader. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is available online in English and Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HenricoCountySearch. It is also available by going to henricoschools.us and looking under “Hot Topics.” A paper version of the survey will be available in the main offices of Henrico schools by next week. Surveys must be submitted before midnight on March 7.

The Board will also hold a community input meeting on the search March 1 at L. Douglas Wilder Middle School and a public input session March 8 at the New Bridge Learning Center following the Board’s regularly scheduled work session.

“We want to make sure that the public has a voice in this process,” said Ogburn. “We want to make this as transparent and inclusive a process as we can.”

Patrick C. Kinlaw, the division’s superintendent since 2014, has announced that he will retire June 30.

The School Board is working with the Virginia School Boards Association in the search process. The association will view individual surveys, but the School Board will only see the compiled survey results.

The School Board adopted the following timeline for the search process:

• Feb. 14 to March 7: Board members meet with PTA groups and school faculties by request.
• March 1, 6:30-8 p.m.: Community input meeting (L. Douglas Wilder Middle School, 6900 Wilkinson Road, Henrico).
• March 7: Survey deadline.
• March 8, 6 p.m.: Public input session (following Board’s regularly scheduled work session; New Bridge Learning Center, 5915 Nine Mile Road, Henrico).
• March 9, 9-11 a.m.: Board meets to establish position qualifications (New Bridge Learning Center, 5915 Nine Mile Road, Henrico).
• March 13: Board provides position qualifications to Virginia School Boards Association.
• March 15 to April 10: Candidates submit applications.
• April 18, 11 a.m.: Board meets with Virginia School Boards Association in closed session at New Bridge Learning Center.
• April/May: Interviews with candidates.
• May/June: New superintendent announced.
• July 1: Anticipated start date of new superintendent.